(Duh…)
BMW are on the cusp of revealing their all-new G20 3 Series sedan to the world, and they’d like anyone willing to listen to know how close they are - for hype reasons? The final prototypes are about to enter their respective rounds of final laboratory and real-world testing, putting to use the data gathered during its various endurance trials in challenging weather and surface conditions.
As BMW are wont to do, the all-new 3 Series has undergone hot weather testing in Death Valley as well as having to endure the biting cold in Sweden’s frozen north to measure temperature and climate extremes on the car’s various components, both mechanical and electronic. Similarly, prototypes were also operated for prolonged periods at high oxygen-starved altitudes and was subjected to endure high electromagnetic interference.
In all these tests, BMW reports that the 3 Series’ internal systems performed with aplomb, resisting heat, cold and all manner of airborne particles while being driven in a way not reflective of a loving owner. The engineers conducting these tests also had a hawk’s eye fixed on car’s drive systems, particularly the xDrive all-wheel drive, M Sport rear differential, and its Dynamic Stability Control.
Naturally, keeping secret details about the 3 Series’ exterior was also an important consideration as a fleet of cars were routinely driven at these key test locations, particularly when its dynamics and airflow properties were being honed at the Nurburgring, hence the need to conceal its body with a patterned camouflage wrap of debatable effectiveness.
With the G20 3 Series undergoing a rather extended and high profile testing phase, the Munich automaker has done well to keep the finer details about the car's final spec under wraps. We do know that, like all rear-driven BMWs of this generation, it will be constructed upon the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform, which improves upon its predecessor’s structural rigidity while shedding weight.
While it’s a near certainty that the higher-performance variants will make use of the B58 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-6, it’s still an open question as to how BMW will structure the engine (and tune) hierarchy for more volume grades, specifically the spread of its 3-cylinder B38 turbo-petrols and its 4-cylinder B48 units. The fact that only very recently the X2 M35i debuted with their most powerful four-pot yet, enough to earn it a sub-M designation, also shakes things up considerably.
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