BMW's new 3 Series range dominates the sports sector

Honored as the king of sports, the BMW 3 Series have been evolving with the era, while persisting in the sport spirit. It now roars with unrivaled, distinctive upgrades, consolidating its dominant position and advantage.

The German brand's new 3 Series manifests the utmost care for customers' demands and individualized personalities, through the 12 latest versions launched on the Chinese market on Thursday.

Inheriting its ancestors' DNA, the new BMW 3 Series demonstrates the sporty creed to lead the mid-size premium market segment, in which the younger generation of Chinese customers, born in the 1980s and 1990s, are the mainstream.

As is well known among industrial insiders, premium car buyers in the Chinese market are much younger than the average age of the overall global customer group. Automakers have found Chinese youths' hearts belong to those who better meet their expectation of passion, devotion and self-expression.

Bearing the trend through design and development, the BMW 3 Series positions itself precisely as a splendid, sporty and high-tech offer that delivers sheer driving pleasure.

The mid-size premium sedan has kept its high profile in the world's largest market, with a sales volume of 97,000 vehicles by the end of August. Registering a monthly sales volume exceeding 10,000 vehicles in the first seven months, the model not only leads the high-end segment, but also ranks among the top 5 in the overall mid-size segment.

The 3 Series' popularity reveals the thorough understanding of the market, thanks to its wholehearted consideration of its customers and long-term development strategy.

Keeping pace with the era and evolving with the latest trends, BMW has made incomparable efforts and progress in upgrading the sixth generation of the BMW 3 Series. The new offerings unleashed a batch of 29 upgrades, aiming to stand out from among the other carmakers' usual facelifts and annual models.

The upgrades have boosted the premium substance of the new BMW 3 Series, to match Chinese customers' high-end quality expectations. The quality elevation can be identified almost everywhere inside, as soon as one sits in the latest product.

The entire line-up has sports front seats installed as standard with three color options - mocha, cognac, and black stitching with blue; an all-new carbon-fiber-look aluminum decoration strip; and newly-added dashboard stitches. In addtion, the M Sport style adds an M steering wheel to further highlight its sporty character.

Cherished by the world's 'beemer' fans as the top driving machine, the new BMW 3 Series delivers a superior-as-ever experience, driven by the powerful drivetrain, bolder sporty exterior design, refined racing-style interior and more high-technology equipment from the 12 versions of M Sport, M Sport Dark Edition, Lifestyle and Luxury.

M Sport Dark Edition

The BMW 3 Series M Sport Dark Edition makes the BMW M Sport design stand out at the first sight from the rest, declaring its sporty character and top-in-class aerodynamics.

The sport package immediately commands people's attention, with the black BMW M performance kidney grille, 18-inch M light alloy dark wheels rims, M aerodynamics package, M scarlet color braking caliper, M sports seats and an M steering wheel.

In addition to black headlamp units and black mirror caps, the dark taillight inserts, exhaust tailpipes in chrome black, LED fog lamps and black inserts for the three-part lower air intake contribute to the vehicle's distinctly expressive appearance.

As the interior part of the M Sport package, the M Sport seats in black leather, M leather-covered steering wheel, roof lining in anthracite, M door sills and Driving Experience Control including Sport+ mode are equipped as standard.

This exceptionally dynamic edition is also decorated with trim strips in dark aluminum carbon and accent strips in pearl gloss chrome.

At high speed, a treat for the ears is provided by the Harman Kardon surround sound system that offers perfect three-dimensional sound. The premium system fills the car with brilliant-quality surround sound and opens up a whole world of listening experiences.

Compared with a regular hi-fi system, the Harman Kardon system has been further optimized to develop a significantly more refined sound pattern. The Auravox technology enables vehicle-specific and speed-dependent equalizing in the bass register, compensating for driving noise.

Technology devices

The cockpit of the BMW 3 Series offers all the prerequisites for a sporty driving experience.

An instrument panel with a new, distinctive contrasting seam, an instrument cluster with upgraded features, as well as the new sports steering wheel, the padding and surface of which ensures excellent feel and grip, provide for a classy and sportive ambience.

The digital instrument cluster, featuring enhanced 12.3-inch TFT dashboard display that automatically switches the style in accordance with the driving mode, for example a red speedometer and big white digits when running in Sport mode.

The user of the special edition will also be enjoying the 8.8-inch central touch screen functions of the just-upgraded human-machine interface. The floating cards design makes the menu easier to understand and select, and even allows customization and split-screen operation.

Besides, BMW's Natural Language Understanding is onboard through Intelligent Voice Assistant, with recognition of natural language commands for navigation, entertainment and communication. Apple CarPlay TM, as the favorite feature preferred among younger customers, is available as an option for a seamless smart lifestyle through connection with mobile devices.

Superior as ever

The new BMW 3 Series sports a class-leading drivetrain that leaves its rivals in the dust.

The BMW B Series TwinPower turbo engine rages at a constantly instant response, thanks to the core technologies of double-variable camshaft control, or Double-VANOS, and Valvetronic.

Matching a Steptronic 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shift, the drivetrain is a further for smooth power outputs. The segment-leading aerodynamics, lightweight aluminum alloy body and chassis enhance both the dynamic drive and comfort.

The BMW xDrive intelligent technology system also makes sure that powerful traction and driving safety is secured for all weather conditions, as well as all road situations.

After switching off the Dynamic Stability Control, the Start Launch Control empowers the driver to burnout until the brake paddle is released, and launch the special edition into the fastest acceleration for peerless high-speed driving pleasure.

haoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/25/2017 page19)