2012 BMW 3 Series Officially unveiled

[nitrous9200]

It's just a shrunken down 5 series. Yawn.

People have been complaining about the interior but it looks clean and simple with no excess of stupid technology.

 

[SSSnail]

I think at this rate, I'm really going to hunt for a nice condition E46 M3 and be happy.

 

[KentState]

The hood should extend to the front grill. That line just does not make the font of the car look clean or well thought out. That's a design mishap that I would expect from a Korean car company, not BMW.

 

[MotF Bane]

The hood should extend to the front grill. That line just does not make the font of the car look clean or well thought out. That's a design mishap that I would expect from a Korean car company, not BMW.

The hood shouldn't touch the grille, it makes it easier to seal the engine bay, but the straight line does look bad, it should curve to match the front.

 

[KentState]

The hood shouldn't touch the grille, it makes it easier to seal the engine bay, but the straight line does look bad, it should curve to match the front.

I'm saying that it should include the grill like prior models.

 

[PricklyPete]

I'm saying that it should include the grill like prior models.

It does that on the E46...I believe they stopped on the E90.

 

[soccerballtux]

Funny that this article doesn't mention the change to double-wishbone front suspension. I read that in an Autoweek article. I think that and the turbo-4 replacing the NA 6 are the big stories with this new generation.

suspension change seems like a pretty big deal.

 

[Aharami]

The hood should extend to the front grill. That line just does not make the font of the car look clean or well thought out. That's a design mishap that I would expect from a Korean car company, not BMW.

came here to post exactly this! That line along the front ruins the look IMO

 

[Throckmorton]

Is it just me or do you automatically become more of a "prick" driver once you get a quicker car like this? I drove like a grandma with my TDI.


Or maybe its just Florida drivers in general.

Guess you've never heard the joke? What's the difference between a BMW and a porcupine?

 

[Throckmorton]

The new front end looks great. Reminds me of the BMW concept cars, and that one 80s BMW supercar

 

[Throckmorton]

Wait.. the side profile is horrible. It looks like the nose is bent.

 

[Throckmorton]

The hood should extend to the front grill. That line just does not make the font of the car look clean or well thought out. That's a design mishap that I would expect from a Korean car company, not BMW.

I think the reason for that is that now the grille is part of the bumper. That's what it looks like anyway. The BMWs with the grille integrated with the hood had a protruding bumper below.

 

[soccerballtux]

thats weird

 

[Throckmorton]

Herbert the Pervert nose

 

[senseamp]

Wait.. the side profile is horrible. It looks like the nose is bent.

Could be related to pedestrian safety regulations or aerodynamics.

 

[exar333]

I like the current model more. This looks bloated to me.

 

[vshah]

3 series front has gone downhill since the e46 imho

last gen was way better than this...this just looks pinched.

 

[gevorg]

Now this is the car I wouldn't mind upgrading from my e46. The E9x variety were terrible.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Now this is the car I wouldn't mind upgrading from my e46. The E9x variety were terrible.

To me it will be all about the driving experience, which is an unknown. For what it's worth I think my E90 330i handles better than my E46 M3, and in every way other than speed it's as good or better to drive. I do think the E46 is the high-water mark for styling of the 3 series, however. Personally I think the F30 looks a great deal like the E90 (particularly in profile - not so much in front), but at this point we don't know how it will drive. The electric power steering is a worry, since it has been largely panned on the F10 - we shall see.

 

[punjabiplaya]

from the side profile it kinda looks like it's doing a duckface