According to reports, BMW will be revealing the facelifted 3-Series on 7 May 2015 at a special event in Munich, Germany. Exact details are scarce at this point, but what we do know is that the 3-Series will benefit from a number of engine and styling updates including new adaptive LED highlights, revised bumpers as well as an updated kidney grille.
This facelift couldn’t have been at a better time for BMW as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is currently dominating the headlines thanks to a win in the World Car of the Year competition and Audi is on the verge of launching its overdue A4 sedan.
New engines for BMW 3 Series
The big rumour for the refreshed 3-Series however is that the entry level versions will be powered by a three-cylinder 1.5-litre TwinPower Turbo engine which offers up 100 kW and 230 Nm of torque. Although you might frown at this decision, this unit is expected to outperform the four-cylinder 1.6-litre engine currently doing service in the range, while offering better emissions and economy. We tried this engine in both the Mini Cooper and the BMW ActiveTourer and enjoyed it’s responsiveness.
There’s also talk that there will be a 3-Series badged with 340i. Rumours suggest this will be a 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine and will be replacing the N55 engine which has done duty in many products like the 135i and 335i. This engine could also be the most powerful 3-Series motor other than the M3/M4.
You can also expect to see a plug-in hybrid join the 3-Series range which will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol unit coupled with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery. The outgoing BMW ActiveHybrid 3 was an interesting car as it combined the fearsome 3.0-litre turbo six-cylinder engine with an electric motor.
We will keep you updated as more details emerge closer to the official reveal. Have you seen our video where we compared the BMW 3-Series to the BMW 4-Series GranCoupe?
