Pictured below is the latest sighting of a F30 335i sedan in alpine white. Here's an analysis of the photos.
STYLING
This FEP (final evaluation phase) test mule shows off the F30's sporty/squat design, with its short overhangs and wheels pushed to the corners. The F30 front fascia adopts BMWs current design language, with a sleeker sloping hood with more upright and widened kidney grilles placed below the hood line. As clearly seen in the photos, the F30 will feature double side character lines, the top one which flows directly into the hood and headlights. The rear lights remain classic L-shapes. The side view mirrors will feature turn signals, like the just revealed F20 1-series hatchback. Also revealed clearly for the first time in these photos are additional hood lines along the edge where the camouflage ends on the hood.
Size-wise, the F30 runs on a longer wheelbase and wider track than the current E90 sedan, but with shorter overhangs. It's been suggested before that the F30 is approximately 2 inches longer than the E90.
This test car features new wheels which we've yet to see fitted to the F30. The brakes appear to be fixed piston calipers.
PRE-PRODUCTION INTERIOR
We also bring you new photos of the interior. Along with earlier F30 interior photos, the following features are revealed:
Freestanding Control Display
This is the first F30 interior photo where we can clearly see the same freestanding flatscreen monitor just introduced in the F20 1-series and the current 6-series. The likely display options will be a 6.5 or 8.8-inch high-resolution control display.
Auto Start-Stop
Although the center dash still appears in pre-production form, what appears to be production level is the instrument cluster. The F30's Auto Start/Stop feature can be seen in the tachometer. Additional markings make it easier for the driver to see if the engine on or off due to the Start/Stop fuction -- needle sits at "READY" or "OFF".
Semi Black Panel Display
These photos also offer a good glimpse at the information display in the lower part of the instrument cluster. BMW began implementing black panel display technology with their full black panel displays in the F01 7-series, a feature which will trickle down across the whole model range (as seen in the just revealed
F20 1-series). But, as expected, the black panel display is smaller (and partial) in the F30. It isn't a full black panel display -- the markings for the speedometer and tachometer aren't shown via black panel but traditional permanent markings [compare to
full black panel display on F10]. Nonetheless, the black panel tech and size of the display used for the on-board computer and other information like radio settings is a vast improvement over the E9x 3-series.
Lane Change Warning System
Finally, this shot confirms that BMW's Lane Change Warning feature will be available for the F30 as well. Sensors at each side of the F30 will continuously check for cars in the left or right hand blindspots. If a car is detected, a small warning triangle in the housings of the exterior mirrors will light up (see photo to the right) and the steering wheel will vibrate.
SCHEDULE / VARIANTS
The F30 3-series sedan is expected to be officially announced in November in London, in connection with the upcoming 2012 Olympics, and makes its world debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show in March of 2012. Sales should begin shortly after in Europe and in the US by the Spring. As per the usual 3-series sedan/coupe timeline, the F32 coupe should debut a year later sometime in 2013.
An Active Hybrid F30 3-series as a Concept will also be shown at Geneva and there is also a
3-series GT (Gran Turismo) which has already been spied in testing.
Expect engine options to include a full range of turbo engines. The 28i will likely be powered by the same N20 turbo 4-cylinder powering the X1 xDrive28i and the upcoming Z4 sDrive28i, and the F30 335i will again be powered by a turbo 6-cylinder engine.
Follow all our F30 3-series coverage at http://www.bimmerpost.com/3-series/f30/
