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The BMW F30 series is the sixth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars. The car is also available as a touring (designated as F31) from the fall of 2012. It is the successor to the E90 model and was unveiled by automaker BMW on October 14, 2011 in Munich, Germany. The world premier was broadcasted live over the internet through Facebook. It was released as a 2012 model and has been on sale since early 2012. The F30 sedan was launched on February 11, 2012 by BMW Press.

The BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics is the most widely used vehicle in the London 2012 Olympics due to BMW's official partnership. New for 2012 is the introduction of a four-cylinder engine for North America since the 318i of the late 1990s. The new 3 Series is also the first to introduce the new BMW face, with flat headlights reaching the BMW kidney grille.

Also for the first time, the 3 Series features five different "lines", or trim levels. Each "line" includes its own unique details:

The Base/SE model offers standard equipment and aluminum interior trim. The keyfob for the car is black with an aluminum accent. This allows the owner to customize his or her own 3 Series without picking a package.

The Modern Line offers wood interior trim, leather seating surfaces, and the car's keyfob has a oyster gray (light beige) with an aluminum accent.

The Luxury Line offers wood interior trim, luxury leather seating surfaces, and the keyfob for the car is black-colored accent.

The Sport Line offers sporty details, sports leather seating surfaces w/ red stitching, and a black keyfob with a red-colored accent.

Finally, the M Sport Line offers M-inspired details, sports leather seating surfaces w/ light blue stitching, and a black keyfob with a light blue-colored accent.

Styling
Designed by Christopher Weil under design chief Adrian Van Hooydonk (into March 2009), the new BMW 3 Series has grown in all dimensions compared to its predecessor. The styling is similar to previous generations with a sweeping bonnet, short front overhang, and long wheelbase typical of previous generation BMW. The front and back of the BMW 3 Series is now wider (+ 34/77 mm at the front/rear) with a slightly forward-slanting BMW kidney grille. The rectangular headlights extend up to the frame of the kidney grille merging the headlight and grille adding further emphasis to a more broader stance. Exterior mirrors also have integrated turn signal lights. The rear lights return to the traditional BMW L-shaped design positioned at the outer edge of the back end. The interior continues BMW design by angling the cockpit towards the driver by seven degrees. In the driver's area all the lines converge on a single point behind the wheel. Positioned on the horizontally-structured instrument panel is the freestanding iDrive monitor. Large drink holders are now integrated into the centre console in front of the gearshift lever. The BMW 3 Series can also be ordered with three distinct design variants. The Sport Line, Luxury Line, and Modern Line features different exterior and interior design elements for each line.



Sport Line
The distinguishing element in the sport line is the high-gloss black that gives a more dynamic appearance to the BMW 3 Series. Eight black kidney grille slats in a chrome-colored surround gives the front end of the car a sporty look. Black inserts in the front apron make the air intake and wheel arches appear larger. High-gloss black painted exterior mirrors and B-pillar and window guide add to the sportier look. Finally a black trim strip on the lower crease underlines the width-enhancing effect of the rear styling along with a black tailpipe. The sporty interior ambiance is expressed by contrasting red and black accents. Red trim rings, red scales in the dials, red stitching on the steering wheel underline the ambiance of the cockpit. The ignition key is also specially identified by its black finish and red detailing.

Modern Line
Satinated aluminum underlines the contemporary character of the Modern Line. The BMW kidney grille, with 11 satinated aluminum slats, and double trim strips for the air intakes in the same color gives the front end a contemporary look. Satinated aluminum is also used on the B-pillar and window guide at the front and rear. The interior has a lighter characteristic with an oyster-colored instrument cluster with chronoscale. The interior utilizes a three-dimensional wood surface that is more tactile. The ignition key is identified by its oyster finish and silver detailing.



Luxury Line
The Luxury Line is defined by high-gloss chrome elements that portrays an elegant and exclusive appeal. The BMW kidney grille with 11 chrome slats, two slightly offset chrome trim strips in the front apron air intakes, and high-gloss chrome trim strip running horizontally above the air scoop gives a more striking appearance. The window frame and weather strip are also in chrome. The rear has a high-gloss chrome strip that extends across the full width of the rear apron along with a chrome tailpipe. Inside the cockpit chrome surrounds the radio and air conditioning unit. The ignition key is identified by its black finish and chrome detailing.

M Sport Package
Will feature interior and exterior features found on BMW M models. The M package is ordered since May 2012. Exclusively for the M package, the vehicle can be delivered in Estoril blue color. The front and rear apron is quite different from the other models. The technical equipment features a sports suspension with 10mm lowering count (also available separately), and the optional "M-sport brake" with blue calipers.

Engines
Naturally aspirated straight-six engines from 325i/328i/330i are replaced by BMW's new N20 turbocharged inline-four two liter engine already introduced in several other BMW models. The turbocharged inline-four is able to achieve better performance and economy than the naturally aspirated straight-six engine. The significant upgrade in power and efficiency is due to the use of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology that utilizes technologies such as high precision direct petrol injection, twin-scroll turbocharging, Double-Vanos variable camshaft timing and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing. This results in an efficient way to extract more power from the engine, rather than using a larger displacement engine which adds to weight and fuel consumption. The top of the range 335i has the same N55 engine as E90. The engine has been fine-tuned to further reduce fuel consumption and emissions to the predecessor unit while maintaining the performance.

The 316i featuring the 1.6L TwinPower engine was launched in Q4 2012 and is only available in selected markets. Compared to the predecessor 316/318i, it is built in Germany and features better build quality.


 * Figures in brackets are for automatic gearbox.
 * ED stands for Efficient Dynamics Edition.
 * 320i ED is available with manual gearbox only.
 * 330d is available with automatic gearbox only.

Gearbox
Available gearboxes in the new 3 Series are the same as in the 1 Series: a 6-speed manual is standard, while an 8-speed automatic ZF-8HP (made by ZF Friedrichshafen) is optional.

Driving Experience Control switch can change the overall character of the car depending on the driving situation. The driver can choose between ECO PRO, COMFORT, SPORT, and SPORT+. Each of these predefined set-ups activates different settings for the relevant powertrain and suspension components.



BMW ConnectedDrive
The BMW ConnectedDrive is a range of technology to help with comfort, information, entertainment, and safety. Technology such as help with safety and information BMW Parking Assist, Surround View, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, and Speed Limit Info with No Passing Info Display. BMW Parking Assist helps driver maneuver into parking spaces automatically through the use of camera and parking sensors. Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function not only maintains the desired distance to the vehicle in front but can slow the car down to a standstill in heavy traffic. Finally, Speed Limit Info helps alert drivers to current speed limit on the road by continuously scanning road-signs with the integrated camera in the rear-view mirror.

Other passenger comfort innovation includes Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI), information and office services, and Google Maps. BMW Connected Drive also utilizes external mobile phones and music players. Internet-based services such as weather, news, calendar entries, and text-based messages can be viewed on the iDrive operating system and read out via text to speech function. BMW Connected app also allows full in-car use of web radio as well as social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Finally the "My BMW Remote" app allows drivers to open and close the car and control heating from the outside. A number of driver assistance system also adds to the safety of the BMW 3 Series. Systems like full color head-up display, lane change warning system, and lane departure warning including collision warning.

BMW Efficient Dynamics
The increased efficiency of the BMW 3 Series is accomplished through the inclusion of auto start-stop, brake energy regeneration, and ECO PRO mode technology. Auto start-stop automatically switches off the engine during short stops at traffic lights or in stationary traffic to not waste fuel. Brake energy regeneration generates power for the vehicle electrical system during braking and overrun. When the engine is under load, the alternator can be disengaged. Finally, ECO PRO mode can modify powertrain management and heating and air conditioning to optimum efficiency, reducing fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent. Due to customer demands, the auto start-stop mode can be disabled by the dealership or by pressing a disable button next to the start button.

ActiveHybrid 3
The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2012, and is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in September 2012 as a 2013 model year. The AcitveHybrid 3 shares the same 225 kW/306 hp six-cylinder in-line engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology of the BMW 335i, and the same hybrid technology of the ActiveHybrids 5 and 7. The ActiveHybrid 3 has a 40 kW/55 hp electric motor, powered with a high-voltage lithium-ion battery integrated underneath the luggage area, which allows the hybrid to travel up to 2.5 mi on all-electric mode at speeds of up to 46 mph. The combined power of the gasoline engine with the electric motor allow the ActiveHybrid 3 to offer up 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. The battery pack weights 270-pound more relative to the 335i, but the ActiveHybrid 3 achieves a balance between performance and fuel economy.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rated the 2013 model year ActiveHybrid 3 with a combined fuel economy of 28 mpgUS, with 25 mpgUS in the city, and 33 mpgUS in highway, surpassing the ratings of its sibbling the 335i by 5 mpgUS combined, as well as BMW two other hybrids available in the U.S., the 2013 ActiveHybrid 5 and the 2012 ActiveHybrid 7.

E90 comparison
The new F30 sedan is 93 mm longer, 6 mm wider (42 mm including mirrors) and 8 mm taller than its predecessor (E90). The wheelbase is longer by 50 mm. Also boot space is bigger by 20 L. Even though the new 3 Series is bigger and has more standard equipment than its predecessors, it is lighter than the model it replaces. For example, the new 328i has the same weight as the outgoing 325i and the new 335i is 40 kg lighter than the outgoing 335i.

Notable downgrades to the new 3-series from its E90 predecessor include the deletion of LED turn signals in both the headlight and tail light clusters (with the return to traditional bulbs), as well as the replacement of non-intrusive, articulated gas-strut trunk hinges with cheaper, obstructive gooseneck hinges.

Enthusiast magazine reviews were also less than stellar. In their November, 2012, issue, Car and Driver wrote, "We're convinced that the E90 would handily win a comparison test against the F30." In the April, 2012, issue they noted an increase in weight, versus the BMW's suggestion of a loss: "weight gain from our last E90 335i test car is 77 pounds, at least some of which must be from the new optional 19-inch wheels ($900) . . . ."  Furthermore, acceleration suffered in comparison to the E90 as well, "A slower 5-to-60 time of 5.9 seconds—we expected mid-fives for that—also indicated that something may have been amiss."

The magazine closed the generally ambivalent article with, "At some point, BMW will have to take a bigger step to move forward or risk falling behind its competitors—but not just yet.".

Long wheelbase version
The BMW 3 Series Li premiered at the 2012 Auto China show. Made exclusively for the Chinese automotive market, it is a long wheelbase version of the 3 Series sedan. This vehicle will be produced in BMW's Shenyang production plant. The wheelbase is increased by 11 cm which increases rear knee room by 90 mm.