2019 BMW 3 Series to be Lighter, More Powerful

For the 2019 model year, BMW introduces a newly developed G20 chassis that promises a 3 Series that’s better overall.

The 330i and 330i xDrive are both powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder engine producing 255 hp and a whopping 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s a slight increase in horsepower over the current model year engine, but the jump from 258 lb-ft represents a more than 14% increase in torque. Initial 0-60 times are in the 5.6 second range, which is a tick faster than a V6 Toyota Camry.

We are holding out to see what the M340i xDrive Sedan can do, as the manufacturer says it will come with the quintessentially BMW straight six. They estimate 0-60 times for this latest version, which produces 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, down into the 4.2 second range. More details are expected when the 340i is released next summer.

The new 3 Series line comes standard with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission promising quicker shift times and a Launch Control function. Drivers can use shift paddles mounted to the steering wheel to manually select the gears, and the transmission is programmed to “adapt its shift strategy according to the route and driving situation,” BMW states. A traditional manual gearbox is not currently indicated as an option, though we are holding out hope for the G20-based M3, which is set to come out sometime in the next two years.

Along with the bump in power, the new 3 Series utilizes more aluminum and high-strength steel to shave more than 120 lbs. of weight and achieve 50:50 weight distribution front to rear. Further refining the 3 Series to provide a “sportier” driving experience, according to the manufacturer, are a 25% more rigid body and a “speed-sensitive” power steering rack to improve driving feel.

If that’s not enough for you, BMW will offer adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, variable sport steering, M Sport brakes, and an M Sport electronically-controlled differential. Make a checklist of options and reap M Division benefits with upgraded handling components as a factory option.

Along with all the other improvements and electronic aides, the G20 chassis will introduce the “BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant”–a feature that will, for example, allow you to tell the car you are cold and have it automatically turn up the heat for you. Welcome to 2019.

The 2019 BMW 3 Series line promises a lot. We are looking forward to the next few years of development on this new platform.

Comments

irish44j UltimaDork
10/11/18 6:50 p.m.

"Initial 0-60 times are in the 5.6 second range, which is a tick faster than a V6 Toyota Camry."

Ah yes, the Camry. The benchmark upon which all performance cars are based.

"Further refining the 3 Series to provide a "sportier" driving experience, according to the manufacturer,"

You know what would make for a sportier driving experience? A manual transmission. Especially since the driver's right hand will be 100% available thanks to.....

""BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant"–a feature that will, for example, allow you to tell the car you are cold and have it automatically turn up the heat for you"

Also, my neighbor's 2017 Accord called and it wants its wheels back!

This is officially where Hyundai passes BMW on the "Ultimate Driving Machine" scale, offering the G70 with a manual.....

STM317 SuperDork
10/11/18 6:56 p.m.

In reply to irish44j :

Maybe when you're rallying one of these in 25 years, you can program the "BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant" to be your navigator.

irish44j UltimaDork
10/11/18 7:00 p.m.

STM317 said:
In reply to irish44j :

Maybe when you're rallying one of these in 25 years, you can program the "BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant" to be your navigator.

After watching my actual rally co-driver spending an entire day taking half the engine bay apart just to replace a valve cover gasket on his e92, I totally lost all interest in any new BMW lol....At one point I thought he was just going to say "screw it, I'll live with this oil leak." And this is a guy who builds e30 engines....

Hmm, I wonder if I can get Intelligent Personal Assistant to pay half of the rally entry fee..........:D

Appleseed MegaDork
10/11/18 7:04 p.m.

Wait, is the 3 series the 4 doors now, or is that the 4 series? There's no manual option anymore. BMW has me feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

z31maniac MegaDork
10/11/18 7:06 p.m.

"I hate modern BMWs"

Also, ignore that I haven't driven or owned a modern BMW.

Duke MegaDork
10/11/18 7:13 p.m.

Appleseed said:
Wait, is the 3 series the 4 doors now, or is that the 4 series? There's no manual option anymore. BMW has me feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

The 3 series is 4 doors and the 4 series is 2 doors. Except when it’s not, like the 430i Gran Coupe.

Both Audi and BMW split their lines in a way that made sense, like this. And kept it that way for about 2 years before introducing 4-door versions of their 2-door chassis, even though both already HAD 4-door cars in the same size class.

02Pilot SuperDork
10/11/18 7:15 p.m.

This is just one more nail in a coffin that is already quite firmly nailed shut. BMW's soul must have brought a pretty penny when they sold it to the Devil, who happened to be driving a champagne metallic Camry at the time.

Duke MegaDork
10/11/18 7:43 p.m.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s just middle-age me contemplating buying a car in the next couple of years, but lighter and torquier sounds good to me.

Ransom GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
10/11/18 7:44 p.m.

Oof. Just realized that as excited as I am about putting that four somewhere interesting, BMW won't give me a transmission. Er, I guess they're already using that family of engine, so hopefully it'll bolt up to a current manual...

Anyhow, I'm sure I'd rather drive that than my Mini. I sure dig the F3x that ReachNow is using, in terms of a civilized daily driver. I'm not taken with the styling, but then, I actually had to sit down a few months ago and look up how many generations there had been since the E46 and how to tell them apart. I can now, but that doesn't say much for the styling, does it? This feels like an evolution of that. The E9x and F3x whatever have both grown on me in a sort of "when you see one tucked down a bit on some nice big wheels and tires it looks pretty dang good" kind of way. They both fade to anonymity on pedestrian rolling stock.

irish44j UltimaDork
10/11/18 7:47 p.m.

Ransom said:
Oof. Just realized that as excited as I am about putting that four somewhere interesting, BMW won't give me a transmission. Er, I guess they're already using that family of engine, so hopefully it'll bolt up to a current manual...

Anyhow, I'm sure I'd rather drive that than my Mini. I sure dig the F3x that ReachNow is using, in terms of a civilized daily driver. I'm not taken with the styling, but then, I actually had to sit down a few months ago and look up how many generations there had been since the E46 and how to tell them apart. I can now, but that doesn't say much for the styling, does it? This feels like an evolution of that. The E9x and F3x whatever have both grown on me in a sort of "when you see one tucked down a bit on some nice big wheels and tires it looks pretty dang good" kind of way. They both fade to anonymity on pedestrian rolling stock.

I personally think the 3-series in the last decade have all looked pretty good visually. My biggest beef is that they're pretty uninteresting to drive, putting aside the ridiculously complex everything that make them DIY nightmares.