The 3 Series Li Long Wheelbase model has just premiered in China (for the Chinese market only), so the next 3 series variant to be introduced will be the F31 touring wagon. We expect it to make its debut at the AMI auto show in Leipzig, Germany in early June.
Seen here are FEP (final evaluation phase) F31 Sport Line and a F31 Luxury Line models being put through the paces on the Nurburgring.
To repeat, the F31 touring is confirmed to be making a return to the North American market. When will it hit the States? In
our interview from the 2012 NYIAS, we learned that the F31 will be available in the European market before it launches into North America. Only BMW knows how long the gap will be, but we don't expect it to be any longer than a few months. The F31 should launch to the European market in the Fall/Winter, so that will likely put the North American release at sometime during the first half of 2013.
As for models offerings? North America can count on a 328i model, but will hopefully also see other variants (i.e. 335i and/or diesel) offered at some point in the F31's life cycle.
Bonus pics below of an earlier spotted F31 M Sport touring.
New F31 photos as of May 1, 2012, via Autojunk
Are we possibly looking at the first indication of a 328i xDrive with manual transmission? When we previously interviewed BMW on which F30/F31 xDrive models would receive a manual transmission, all we were told was that there would be at least one xDrive model with manual transmission. So, *if* this particular F31 is a 328i xDrive model (the front suspension appears to sit a bit higher?), then it would appear that the 328i may be one of the xDrive models to receive a manual transmission option.
Original Photos:
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