AUTO ADVISOR GROUP
BRUCE HUBBARD
BMW today released
the first images and information on the next generation BMW 3 Series Sports
Wagon and announced that, as with the two previous generations, this model will
be offered in the US. Unlike anything else on the market, the all-new 3 Series
Sports Wagon will again offer the flexibility and utility one would expect from
a premium wagon combined with the driving dynamics of the quintessential sport
sedan, the BMW 3 Series. The new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon will launch in
Europe later this year and is set to arrive in US showrooms in Spring 2013.
Powertrain details for the US as well as pricing, specifications and
standard/optional equipment will be announced at a later date.
Like its Sedan sibling,
the new 3 Series Sports Wagon is slightly larger than its predecessor, most
notably its wider track (front + 37 mm/1.46 in., rear + 48 mm/1.85 in.). The
car’s length (+ 97 mm/3.66 in.) and wheelbase (+ 50 mm/1.96 in.) also
accentuate its sporting promise. Inside the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon, rear
passengers will appreciate the noticeable increase in space made possible by
the larger dimensions. These larger dimensions also pay dividends in utility
with nearly ten percent more cargo volume both with the rear seats up and when
folded.
The new 3 Series Sports
Wagon will be the next model to offer BMW Lines as a way to tailor the car to
individual tastes, just as with the Sedan, by choosing from a trio of trim and
equipment variants – the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. Each presents
its own individual take on the character of the Sports wagon, with exclusive,
high-quality trim and material combinations. For the enthusiast who wants to go
beyond even the Sport Line, the M Sport Line will also be offered because it
is, after all, a BMW 3 Series at its heart.
The sporting nature of the
new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon is made apparent to the eye by its wide track. By
accentuating the width of the car, the multi-faceted surfaces of the expressive
front fascia give the 3 Series Sports Wagon a more athletic face than ever.
A three-dimensional
interpretation of the upright, slightly forward-slanting BMW kidney grille
emphasizes an assured presence. LED accent lights positioned like eyebrows
above the traditional four round headlights with corona rings (if Adaptive
Xenon headlights are specified) lend an extra intensity to the classic BMW
focused look. Clearly defined headlight surrounds now extend up to the frame of
the kidney grille, merging the headlights and grille into a single stylistic
element and adding further emphasis to the car’s broad-set stance. The 3 Series
Sports Wagon replaces the central air intake of its predecessor with two larger
intakes, which are positioned underneath the headlights to the outer edges of
the front fascia and add extra depth to the car’s sporty look. This new
technology improves air flow around the front wheels, enhancing aerodynamic
efficiency and reducing fuel consumption at higher speeds.
The closely spaced, squat
openings of the kidney grille, with their eye-catching surrounds, form the most
prominent element of the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon’s front design. It is
also where the precise lines of the dynamically contoured hood begin at the
base of the A pillars and flow over the full length of the hood. The result is
a front that appears lower-slung, giving 3 Series Sports Wagon a clear sporting
edge when viewed head-on.
The flanks of the car are
shaped by an eye-catching double character line running alongside each other.
The higher character line emerges out of the low-slung nose and flows over the
front wheel with an understated sweep, in a nod to the wagon’s fleetness of
foot. The second character line develops lower down behind the front wheel and
follows a delicately arching path towards the rear.
The car’s athletic overall
impression is emphasized by the steeply raked D-pillars, the angle of the rear
window and the subtly wedge-shaped geometry of the window surfaces. The
roofline – which slopes downwards slightly to the rear and is extended visually
by a spoiler – and the “Hofmeister kink” at the foot of the D-pillar also
generate a sense of dynamic tension. The finely balance between the greenhouse
and the body lends the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon a sporty, elegant and
nimble look, while the rear lights extend well into the sides of the body and
combine with its flowing lines to create a harmonious transition between the
flanks and rear section.
The rear of the new BMW 3
Series Sports Wagon also boasts a blend of sporting elegance and modern
practicality. The horizontal lines and L-shaped lights set far to the outer
edges accentuate the subtly flared fenders and the wider track. Two integrated
bars of LEDs allow a slim light design and ensure they maintain an appearance
that is instantly recognizable as a BMW both day and night. The large tailgate
opening and low sill make loading and unloading bulky items that much easier.
The new BMW 3 Series
Sports Wagon again features a rear window that opens separately from the
tailgate. The window is unlocked electrically via a button on the rear window
wiper arm and opened by hand. This practical function makes it easier to load
and unload smaller items – especially when space is tight, as the rear window
opens up rather than out.
In order to make access to
its generous cargo area easier, a power tailgate will be offered for the first
time on a 3 Series Sports Wagon. Getting into the cargo area can be done
at the touch of a button, either on the remote key or from inside the
interior. Access is made even easier when Comfort Access is ordered,
which will include the Hands Free Opening Tailgate. If one approaches the
new 3 Series Sports Wagon with hands full, one need only stick a foot under the
rear bumper and the tailgate automatically swings open.
The new BMW 3 Series
Sports Wagon offers remarkable flexibility. A net as well as an
additional strap along the right side panel can be used to help secure cargo.
Four tie-downs are integrated into the cargo floor. A storage tray under the
load compartment floor and a deep stowage compartment on the left-hand side of
the cargo area can accommodate smaller items. Also standard is a
separatepartition net, which can be employed in a variety of ways even when the
rearseat backrests are folded down. The rear seats can be folded down in three
sections in a 40:20:40 split. The large through-loading facilityallows the new
3 Series Sports Wagon to carry four adults and longer items, such as skis or
snowboards, at the same time.
In addition to the
flexibility and utility offered by the interior of the new BMW 3 Series Sports
Wagon, other features unique to this model includes roof-rails to accommodate
all manner of storage racks for everything from bicycles and skis to cargo
boxes. It will also be available with a full glass panoramic sunroof.
With its broad range of
driver assistance systems and mobility services, all offered as part of BMW
ConnectedDrive, the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon sets a new benchmark when it
comes to safety, convenience and infotainment.
The new BMW 3 Series
Sports Wagon is available with a full-color Head-Up Display. It projects key
information in sharp resolution onto the windshield in the driver’s direct
field of vision. Depending on the vehicle specification the speed limit is
noted in addition to the car’s speed. The driver can also see navigation
instructions and various alerts in the Head-Up Display. Thanks to the wide
variety of driver assistance systems available in the new BMW 3 Series range,
more information can be placed in the driver’s direct line-of-sight while their
eyes remain squarely on the road.
State-of-the-art camera
technology provides the potential for new levels of safety and convenience.
Active Safety options include Lane Departure Warning as well as Blind Spot
Detection. Backing up and parking both are made easier with the available
Rear-view Camera with Top View which provides a bird’s-eye view of the car.
Another convenience-enhancing assistance system is the BMW Parking Assistant,
which takes charge of maneuvering into parking spaces making parallel-parking a
breeze.
BMW Assist, a globally
unique mobility service, comprises among other features a telephone information
service and BMW’s industry-leading enhanced Automatic Collision Notification
function with automatic detection of the vehicle location. BMW Assist also
includes Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.
Other innovative
technologies allow the integration of the Apple iPhone and other smartphones as
well as music players, including the use of Internet-based services. The Apps
option enables iPhone users, among other things, to receive Internet radio
stations and to display Facebook and Twitter posts on the onboard monitor. With
BMW Apps, iPhone users can access and listen to music streaming services like
Pandora and MOG today with Stitcher coming soon.
The all-new BMW 3 Series
Sports Wagon again brings the versatility of a wagon with the driving dynamics
of the quintessential sport sedan. The new 3 Series Sports wagon will be
arriving in US showrooms in spring 2013. BMW states powertrain details for the
US as well as pricing, specifications and standard/optional equipment will be
announced at a later date.
AUTO ADVISOR GROUP
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