Munich/Shenyang. Premium German carmaker BMW is
presenting the second generation of a variant of its globally
successful sports sedan developed exclusively for the Chinese market.
The long-wheelbase version of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan will
celebrate its world premiere at the Auto Shanghai 2019 show. Tailored
specifically to the requirements of Chinese customers, it combines the
new, elegantly sporty and emotionally rich design of the
latest-generation BMW 3 Series Sedan with the most spacious and
comfortable interior of any premium mid-size car, plus ground-breaking
innovations in intelligent connectivity.
The long-wheelbase version of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan meets the
needs of young, progressive customers in the Chinese market. It was
developed alongside the new BMW 3 Series Sedan with standard wheelbase
at the BMW Group’s Munich home in cooperation with Chinese engineers.
With a wheelbase extended by 11 centimetres and exclusive equipment
features, the long-wheelbase version of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan
offers exceptional driving pleasure and outstanding comfort for rear
passengers. It is also the first model available in China to feature
the innovative BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which elevates
intuitive operation and driver/vehicle interaction to a new level.
The long-wheelbase version of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan will be
produced by BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) at its Tiexi plant in
Shenyang, Liaoning Province (north-eastern China). The facility began
operations in 2012 as the second production plant in the BMW Group /
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. joint venture. Among the
models built here is the China-only variant of the new BMW 3 Series
Sedan with standard wheelbase, which will likewise be unveiled for the
first time at Auto Shanghai 2019.
The two body variants of the new sports sedan allow customers in
China to plump for either extra dynamism or even greater comfort. Both
model variants have all the ingredients to build on the successful
history of the BMW 3 Series Sedan, which in China is headlined by an
incredibly rapid growth in demand. Much of the credit here goes to the
long-wheelbase version, which accounts for almost 80 per cent of 3
Series Sedan sales in China. All in all, around one in three new BMW 3
Series cars will be delivered to customers in China.
With this prognosis in mind and in keeping with the “production
follows the market” principle, capacity at BMW Brilliance Automotive’s
Tiexi plant has been ramped up once again. This demand-oriented
production strategy is also contributing significantly to the
burgeoning success of BMW models in other segments of the Chinese car
market. Like the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW X1
are also offered in long-wheelbase versions developed specially for
Chinese customers – and produced in Shenyang exclusively for the
Chinese market.
New design language and distinctive proportions.
The distinct character of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan in
long-wheelbase guise stems from its extra 11 centimetres of wheelbase
and the associated increase in seating comfort and legroom in the rear
compartment. Its body design blends the new, extremely precise design
language and sporting aura of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan with
distinctive proportions. The new car improves significantly on its
predecessor’s aerodynamics by virtue of finely judged optimisations.
Encompassing an exterior length of 4,829 millimetres and a
2,961-millimetre wheelbase, the exterior dimensions of the new
long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan outstrip those of any other car in
its class. BMW’s hallmark sporting prowess is embodied here by short
overhangs, a long bonnet and a set-back passenger compartment. The
four-door model’s stretched silhouette underscores its inherent
elegance and hints at the enviable spaciousness of the interior.
The powerful stature and sporty looks of the new long-wheelbase BMW 3
Series Sedan are accentuated by the 18-inch light-alloy wheels fitted
as standard. The long-wheelbase version of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan
features LED headlights with extended features. The trapezoidal
tailpipe embellishers of the twin-pipe exhaust system add an
eye-catching design flourish to the rear of the car.
Interior: extra space and exclusive appointments.
The extended wheelbase and stretched flank lines of the new
long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan are all about increasing
spaciousness for rear-seat passengers. The rear doors are also
11 centimetres longer than those of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan with
standard wheelbase, allowing particularly easy access to the rear
seats. Add the special shaping and pampering upholstery of the rear
seats to the mix and you have an outstanding level of rear-seat
comfort over long journeys. The new long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan
also offers an extra 43 millimetres of legroom in the rear compartment
over the new BMW 3 Series Sedan with standard wheelbase, which sets a
new benchmark in the class. The newly designed headrest, with their
super-comfortable cushions, and the central armrest between the rear
seats are likewise designed to provide a cosseting driving experience,
while roomy map pockets are integrated into the front seat backrests.
The design of the speaker covers has been developed specially for the
Chinese market. In another model-specific feature, the ambient
lighting also includes an illuminated contour strip on the back of the
front seats. The luggage compartment of the new long-wheelbase BMW 3
Series Sedan can swallow 480 litres of gear, including as many as
three golfbags.
The comfort-oriented character of the new long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series
Sedan is also highlighted by a host of other model-specific equipment
features. The panoramic glass roof, for example, ensures an effective
supply of fresh air and a light, airy ambience for the interior. The
attractive specification also includes a sports leather steering wheel
with multifunction buttons and electroplated applications, and
three-zone automatic climate control (with separate controls in the
rear compartment and active carbon filters to optimise interior air
quality). Like the rear-seat passengers, the driver and front
passenger settle into comfort seats with Sensatec trim. Pronounced
contouring, exclusive stitching and comfort headrest also help to make
both the front and rear seats exceptionally pleasant places to be.
Defining features of the driver-focused cockpit include instrument
cluster/Control Display grouping and the modern design of the centre
console, which houses the gearshift selector lever, Driving Experience
Control switch, Controller for the iDrive control/operating system and
button for the electromechanical parking brake. Two USB ports in the
rear compartment and another under the centre console armrest between
the front seats allow those on board to plug in digital devices.
The acoustic glass of the windscreen and optimisations to other body
details ensure an extremely effective level of soundproofing for the
interior. The ambient lighting includes the Welcome Light Carpet,
which generates a striking light graphic where the driver and
passengers get into and out of the car. Added to which, the new
long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan comes with illuminated door sill
plates for both the front and rear.
Developed in Munich, made in Shenyang: the four-cylinder
engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology.
A four-cylinder engine from the latest generation of power units
developed by the BMW Group in Munich brings sports performance to the
BMW 325Li launch model. The new petrol unit generates maximum output
of 135 kW/184 hp from its 2.0-litre displacement and peak torque of
300 Nm (221 lb-ft). It is produced at the BMW Brilliance Automotive
engine plant in Shenyang and features advanced BMW TwinPower Turbo
technology. A twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Injection,
VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable
camshaft control deliver instantaneous response, the appetite for revs
drivers expect from a BMW, exceptional efficiency and minimised emissions.
The engine teams up with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission to
send its power to the road through the rear wheels.
Advanced driver assistance systems pave the way for automated
driving.
The selection of driver assistance systems on board is significantly
more extensive than on the predecessor model, and their innovative
functionality helps pave the way for automated driving in the new
long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan. Collision and Pedestrian Warning
with City Braking function, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Change
Warning, Rear Collision Prevention and Cross Traffic Alert are joined
by Active Cruise Control with Stop Go function. Driving
Assistant Professional also contains other features – including the
Steering and lane control assistant, which takes its lead from road
markings and vehicles travelling ahead and keeps the new
long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan safely on track in traffic jams and
bottlenecks. At speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and under certain
road conditions, the automated driving mode can be used for an
unlimited time as long as the driver maintains concentration on the
road. To this end, their line of vision is monitored permanently by a
camera integrated into the cockpit. Another element of Driving
Assistant Professional is the Emergency Stop Assistant.
The Parking Assistant, which gives the driver a helping hand with
manoeuvring and parking, is included in the new long-wheelbase BMW 3
Series Sedan. It takes over steering, braking and acceleration duties
when parking in spaces parallel with and perpendicular to the road and
when manoeuvring out of parallel spaces. The system also features
Active Park Distance Control, the Reversing Assist camera, the Lateral
parking aid and the reversing assistant.
Control/operation and connectivity: China premiere for the BMW
Intelligent Personal Assistant.
The modern, digital functions of the new BMW Operating System 7.0 –
geared precisely to the needs of the driver – optimise intuitive
operation in the new long-wheelbase BMW 3 Series Sedan. The system
comes with BMW Live Cockpit Professional, which encompasses
consistently designed, situation-linked and customisable screens for
the fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch Control
Display. Touchscreen functionality for the Control Display, the iDrive
Controller, steering wheel buttons, voice control and gesture control
(optional) give the driver various operating methods from which to choose.
Another new arrival in the field of control/operation and intelligent
connectivity is the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, an
intelligent, digital character that responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”
and is making its debut in a model offered for the Chinese market. One
unique feature over other digital assistants is that drivers can give
him a name. The arrival of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant
ensures there is always a genuine BMW professional on board. He is
able to explain all sorts of different functions (“How does the High
Beam Assistant work?”), provide current status information (“Is the
oil level okay?”) and help answer questions (“What warning messages do
I have?”). The Intelligent Personal Assistant is, in short, the ideal
co-driver and comes in particularly useful during everyday driving by
responding to natural voice commands to help the driver with numerous
tasks, such as enhancing productivity and on-board entertainment. The
range of functions and skills available will be constantly expanded as
part of regular updates, which can be carried out seamlessly on a
smartphone and in-car by Remote Software Upgrade.
The long-wheelbase version of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan will only be
available in China.