The 3-Series is a vital part of the BMW’s lineup, so keeping it fresh is essential for its competitiveness in the luxury sports sedan market. For the 2023 model, the automaker made some alterations on the outside as well as on the inside. Some new tech elements, such as BMW’s iDrive 8 Operating System, are also there to boost the posh sedan’s appeal.
Exterior
Let’s start with the exterior design, which isn’t as revolutionary as we have seen in the recent offerings from the automaker. We mean there are no split headlights or a deep-drive grille. We see the corner vents are updated with a unique L shape, and the same design can be seen in the LEDs. BMW ditched the notches beneath the lenses. The matching sharp body lines are notably moderated. The kidney grille looks a tad wider, and the overall appearance is cleaner than before.
The same theme is visible at the back, but it is less dramatic. The taillights are slightly slimmer than before as we see more L patterns with vertically-oriented reflectors fixed into black frames. Furthermore, we can find unique old-style BMW Motorsport roundels on the hood, trunk, and wheel caps for M340i variants to commemorate the 50th birthday of BMW M.
Interior
The biggest highlight of the new 2023 BMW 3 Series is glass dashboard remodeling, which looks pretty advanced. Besides, the sedan features a huge curved display (as found in some other new models). It flawlessly incorporates the driver instrument panel and the centre infotainment display. The driver can use the 12.3 inches screen for important info, while the infotainment duties are entrusted to a 14.9-inch screen. Besides, we see the vents are now slimmer than before, and climate control buttons have found a new place. Additionally, the shift selector for the transmission is gone and swapped with a tinier toggle lever.
Apart from the fashionable new greenhouse, the new BMW 3 Series gets iDrive 8 Operating System, featuring better graphics and a mobile-like look. Occupants can use the system through voice commands and benefit from extra digital features such as the cloud-based BMW Maps navigation system, which is typical for all the models in the range. The 5G connectivity is elective, allowing access to up to 10 devices.
Powertrains
Powering the new 2023 BMW 3 Series are old powerplants we have seen in the previous 3 Series. It means the entry-level 330i employs the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder mill creating 255 horsepower. This powerplant mates to an electric motor in the 330e plug-in hybrid model to generate 288hp combined. The M340i gets a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-litre I6 churning out 382 hp. The 330e and M340i both can be had with xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and 18-inch wheels are typical for all the models.
Price
The automaker is not ready to reveal the price of the new BMW 3 Series. However, we can tell that the 2022 BMW 330i costs AED 296,119 ($42,445 in the U.S.) at least, while the M340i goes for AED 376,648 ($55,695), inclusive of destination fees. The U.S. prices will be announced closer to the launch, which is set for July 2022.
Source and Images: Motor1