G20 BMW 3 Series to be lighter, will feature laser headlights

While we wait for the arrival of the next-generation “G20” BMW 3 Series, rumors and spy photos are buzzing around. There isn’t any official information on what sort of specs or options the upcoming 3 Series will have but there are sources that are leaking a bit of information. So we can get a bit of an idea of what the upcoming 3 Series will be and what it will have.

For starters, the next-gen 3er will be based on BMW’s new CLAR platform, which is a lightweight, scalable architecture upon which the new BMW 7 Series, 5 Series and X3 are built. That means it will be lighter than the current F30-gen car, between 40 and 100 kg lighter, depending on spec, according to Motor.es. Considering that it will be lighter, while also sporting more luxury, technology, that 40-100 kg difference is pretty big. It will also have more interior and cargo space, thanks to the new chassis.

Inside, we’ve seen that the G20 3 Series will boast a radically different cabin from the current F30 car. It gets a new dash layout, one more in keeping with BMW’s new design language, as well as a new iDrive controller, a new shift lever, an electric parking brake and, most importantly, an entirely new digital gauge cluster. From some spy photos we’ve seen, the new 3 Series will boast new digital gauges like that of the 8 Series Concept, which is quite exciting, actually.

It’s also said to boast laser headlights as an option for the first time in the segment. BMW has used laser headlights before, on the BMW i8, and so has Audi, with the R8. So the technology is nothing new to the industry. But it’s only ever been used on ultra high-end cars, like the two aforementioned ones. This will be the first laser headlight application on any car anywhere near the 3 Series’ price range. No word on if that will ever make its way to America but we’re hoping.

It’s also said that BMW will skip launching the 3 Series at the Paris Motor Show in October, choosing instead to launch it in November 2018. This next-gen 3 Series will also likely go on sale in Spring 2019. We’re also eagerly waiting the release of this new 3 Series. It sounds promising, thanks to its lower curb weight, better chassis dynamics and newer technology. We’re expecting big things and reports like this only increase that.

[Source: Motor.es]

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