According to reports, BMW will be revealing the facelifted 3-Series on 7 May 2015 at a special event in Munich, Germany. Exact details are scarce at this point, but what we do know is that the 3-Series will benefit from a number of engine and styling updates including new adaptive LED highlights, revised bumpers as well as an updated kidney grille.
This facelift couldn’t have been at a better time for BMW as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is currently dominating the headlines thanks to a win in the World Car of the Year competition and Audi is on the verge of launching its overdue A4 sedan.
New engines for BMW 3 Series
The big rumour for the refreshed 3-Series however is that the entry level versions will be powered by a three-cylinder 1.5-litre TwinPower Turbo engine which offers up 100 kW and 230 Nm of torque. Although you might frown at this decision, this unit is expected to outperform the four-cylinder 1.6-litre engine currently doing service in the range, while offering better emissions and economy. We tried this engine in both the Mini Cooper and the BMW ActiveToure r and enjoyed it’s responsiveness.
There’s also talk that there will be a 3-Series badged with 340i. Rumours suggest this will be a 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine and will be replacing the N55 engine which has done duty in many products like the 135i and 335i. This engine could also be the most powerful 3-Series motor other than the M3/M4 .
You can also expect to see a plug-in hybrid join the 3-Series range which will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol unit coupled with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery. The outgoing BMW ActiveHybrid 3 was an interesting car as it combined the fearsome 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine with an electric motor.
We will keep you updated as more details emerge closer to the official reveal. Have you seen our video where we compared the BMW 3-Series to the BMW 4-Series GranCoupe ?
