German Car Forum

New attempt by auto-motor-sport/Schulte Nextline:

Looks good but appears too much like the touring. I expect the PAC will be more different.

Betty, this thread is about the new 3-series in general not about a specific body style.

If the next 3er looks nearly as good as this it is going to be a WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think i looks more like the f10, if you change the front bumper.
the next 3 series will get the new kidney grill much more aggressive or not???

Sorry, my mistake.

^ Why do people like busting your chop.

Agree, I had to doublecheck what thread I was in. Way too much F10 influence in this rendering.

Having been out-BMWed (new word for you) by the current C-Class, Bavaria is keen to return to the top of the compact executive segment. Details apparently uncovered by Autocar point to a revolutionary vehicle ready to be everything to everyone.

As far as design is concerned the next 3 Series should be a step outside of the current look. Previous Director of Design Chris Bangle believed in radical styling changes only after every second generation. Should the new boss Adrian van Hooydonk keep to the same philosophy then we should see a 3 that is only slightly different from the current car come 2011. What is for sure is that it will have exceptional aerodynamics with an expected Cd figure of around 0.24, thanks in part to something called an Air Curtain.

Fuel efficiency is of course the big talking point these days. BMW already has EfficientDynamics as its flagship fuel-saving system. It will be taken to the next level for the 3. An example of this is the use of "black box" technology that currently resides in 3 Series vehicles. One piece of information gathered is that those who pilot 320d models drive the fastest and the longest distances. So the next 320d will take this into account and offer better performance and an even longer per-tank range. Some form of kinetic energy recovery system will be fitted as well.

Turbocharged units will be in full circulation at BMW by the time the 3 Series hits the streets. For its purposes we may see three-cylinder petrol turbo engines of a 1.5-litre displacement delivering about 150hp (112kW) while their diesel counterparts are likely to offer around 300Nm of torque. The 8-speed automatic gearbox first seen in the 7 Series will make its way into the 3 while the 7-speed DCT keeps its exclusive place within the performance models.

The internet is becoming far more important to the automotive world than ever before. Therefore the 3 Series will be well connected and feature technology like real-time traffic information. A new power-efficient air conditioning system is being developed to debut in the range as well.


Source: Next generation 2011 BMW 3 Series details emerge - Worldcarfans

Is this scetch official? Because if this is the next 3er, then I think it's gonna be stunning!

I don't think it's official, but it does look nice...

edit:

WOW
thats damn hot

From Autocar:




Engine

The 2011 3-series should get the option of turbocharged three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. In effect half of one of the new-generation six-cylinder units, a 1.5-litre, three-pot diesel should be good for 150bhp and 220lb ft of torque.
The petrol version should deliver 150bhp and 170lb ft but will be cheaper to build because it won’t need the emissions kit demanded of a Euro 6-compliant diesel engine.
These units should be less expensive to make than a four-pot, as well as offering unparalleled weight distribution, since they will sit virtually in the rear of the engine bay. The 2016 engines may have electric motors to spin the turbochargers up to operating speed.

BMW ‘reinvents the 3-series’
See the BMW 3-series future technology picture gallery

Drag reduction

Insiders say BMW cannot — as a premium car maker — contemplate using ‘pure’ aerodynamic solutions for the car’s upper body. It wants enough flexibility to style the car and knows that faired-in wheels, for example, would not appeal to most buyers.
BMW engineers say about 40 per cent of overall air resistance comes from the proportions and shape of the vehicle. So it’s the remaining 60 per cent that it will concentrate on reducing.
Broken down, 30 per cent of drag is attributed to the wheels and wheel arches, 20 per cent to the underfloor shape and 10 per cent to the flow of the cooling air around the brakes and engine bay.

Air curtain

The big aerodynamic step forward for the 2011 3-series is the ‘Air Curtain’. This uses narrow, upright intakes in the lower bumper which channel air through the bumper and out of a slot inside the front of the wheel well.
As it exits the wheel well, this high-speed airflow runs across the face of the wheel, creating what is in effect a ‘curtain’ over the wheel face.
Smoothing the turbulent flow across this part of the car helps reduce the Cd of a 5-series from 0.28 to 0.27.

Running gear

BMW’s front-engined, rear-drive layout remains, but changes will be needed if the 3-series is to “remain relevant” for the 10 years it will be on sale.
To that end, provision has to be made for some kind of electric hybrid assist on the rear axle (which could be combined with the differential) and space needs to be found for the battery pack and electronic control units.
Engineers will also be challenged by the lightweight three-cylinder engines, which will demand very specific suspension settings.

Electrical architecture

The 2011 3-series will be fully integrated with the internet (the 5-series GT will be the first BMW to be launched with the system).
Although the move will open the way for the car to receive a huge amount of information (including from local traffic management systems), for the 2016 model the basic electrical architecture will be transformed to take into account new systems such as the low-energy lighting, electric engine ancillaries and various types of hybrid power assistance.

Climate control

The 2016 3-series could be the first BMW to be fitted with a new type of heating system. Current systems use twice the power needed to heat a 250m2 room, so the future version is expected to reclaim heat from the exhaust system.
A heat store is also possible. An insider said it will use far less power because the cabin will be “de-humidified”. Air-con, he said, overcools to prevent condensation from forming inside the car.

Eight-speed auto

BMW is betting on its new eight-speed automatic transmission being more widely adopted in the future. Rather than using dual-clutch automated manual gearboxes (which will be reserved for performance models), BMW thinks a super-efficient auto will be a hit with premium buyers.
It will sell 150,000 six-cylinder diesel autos this year. The current version is eight per cent more efficient than the previous six-speed auto. By 2011 this transmission will also have been fitted with automatic stop-start.

I think the article was more about future technology rather than that sketch. If any of that info is true then its gonna be a very interesting car.

Eni, Scott or Martin help me out. I'm not that convinced that a 8 speed auto is as effecient as a DCT.

I like the idea of electric motor turbocharging but I hate the idea of a 3 cylinder BMW engine. I wonder how they're going to balance that engine (to be appropriate for a BMW).

Torque Convertor automatic technology has come a long way in the last 3 - 4 years. In the past traditional autos were lazy, slury and uneconomical compared with manual transmissions. Much of that has changed, largely due to the advances in electronics technology.

The efficiency differences between a torque convertor and a dual-clutch gearbox, whilst present, are almost negligible these days. And, certainly an 8 speed auto is very efficient in itself as it presents more options for the engine to operate in optimal rpm ranges.

Martin I can always rely on you to set me aright. Thanks.

^ Pleasure!

Looks terrific if the sketch and illustrations are indicative of the final design. Any news on size, slightly larger?

Could that sketch look something like the new F35?.

Hope this design comes through as illustrated! As far as the tech goes we will see what happens....

"The 2016 engines may have electric motors to spin the turbochargers up to operating speed"

OMG and if it looks like the car on the sketch I'm looking at my dream everyday car. 6 cylinders for me. Inline please 370hp will be enought.

The Image is Autocars own representation.

When I get back from overseeing things @ Frankfurt this week.
I will go into detail regarding BMW's Game changing Hybrid Future from the i-Setta to a new Flagship luxury model .
And why when the new 3er goes on sale in 2012 every BMW model will offer a choice of Active Hybrid models.

And why there is no fear in regarding a 3 cylinder engine or a platform share between MINI and PSA.

[And why there is no fear in regarding a 3 cylinder engine or a platform share between MINI and PSA.[/quote]


As far as I'm concerned, the idea of a closer cooperation with BMW is quite promising.

First the gas & diesel 1.6 engines, then in a not too distant future, the platform...

I guess the next Mini will not get a torsion beam rear axle (or it would probably be reserved to entry-level & electric versions due to lower cost & better battery packaging possibilities).