[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Latest F30 335i Sedan Spied In and Out. Showing New Wheel Design

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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/

[SamS]

Those wheels look great! Probably 18", but they look almost like a 19" with those low profile tires.

I am still not digging the "pop up" style nav screen. Seems like it is just arbitrarily stuck there, not nicely integrated like on current E9x cars.

[E39hijinks]

wow very revealing shots! awesome! that side shot makes me like the F3x soooo much more

also anybody notice the calipers? 6 piston?!

[shanecarmaster1]

It better not do what the 1-series did.

[assinizarM3]

That nav screen is hyundai'sh interior is still boring and surprisingly far away from the 5's interior! Exterior is looking good so far!

[twin fed]

Originally Posted by E39hijinks

wow very revealing shots! awesome! that side shot makes me like the F3x soooo much more

also anybody notice the calipers? 6 piston?!

I am pretty sure that it is a 4 piston.

[E31BMW]

i hate the auto shifter, hate the dash and simple style layout. the screen is garbage, but i do think the exterior will be less of a disappointment. I will be selling my 335 pretty soon and moving onto the GTR. not liking where BMW is headed.

[antzcrashing]

looks sick

[shanecarmaster1]

And might I add that that interior is God awful. I'll keep my e90.

[yakev724]

"let's leave the head/taillights non-LED to give us something to update for the LCI"

After 3 generations, I think it's time to grow up.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

And might I add that that interior is God awful.

Saying this based on spyshots = bad idea


Best regads,
south

[TheBingoBalls]

The render makes the F30 look rubbish (because the front end vs. the rest of the car is extremely off) but the spy shots make it look great! Definitely looks like it's going to look like a mini 5er.

[gun6slinger9]

Originally Posted by Genek335

i hate the auto shifter, hate the dash and simple style layout. the screen is garbage, but i do think the exterior will be less of a disappointment. I will be selling my 335 pretty soon and moving onto the GTR. not liking where BMW is headed.

I very clearly see a 6mt but maybe i'm just seeing things?

[Touring]

My next car

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by Touring

My next car

Yup! By the time the fleet of F30's are finally in production, I expect my E90 325 to be on its way out... LOL

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by gun6slinger9

I very clearly see a 6mt but maybe i'm just seeing things?

I saw a 6mt in the first few pics also. Makes me a little more excited. Also I dunno if it's the wheels or what, but this mule looks really good IMO. Also, I like the free standing nav unit. As long as it's integrated well like on the new 6er then it'll be good.

I really hope that they don't screw up the front though, that would be a disappointment.

[BimmerGuyFL]

Originally Posted by F25X3

too big and if it has electric power steering too dull to drive ala X3.

+1

[LemonOne]

Really? same interior as the F20?
What happened to the driver-oriented cockpit?
Man.. what is BMW doing these days...

[BMWFreaky]

The interior is very disappointing, it's a copy of the F20 interior and not similar to the F10 interior like scott26 told us

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

That is the "Unfinished" F20 1er dashboard in that 3er, the 1er gets the option of a flat screen monitor that sits at the top of the dash , similar to the BMW 6er Coupe and Convertible.

I really don't like this interior it's not premium enough like the F10 5series of new 6series

[IancoleTX]

Dude you guys can't even see the interior, what are you talking about lol.

The exterior shots are looking surprisingly promising. Profile especially.. yum

[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by Touring

My next car

i thought so as well, but the more and more i see the more dissapointed and utterly fiuckin confused i am about what BMW is doing ... seriously, its like theyre confused about themselves

[OdomPHD]

Originally Posted by yakev724

"let's leave the head/taillights non-LED to give us something to update for the LCI"

After 3 generations, I think it's time to grow up.

I PRAY they'll offer the LED headlight/tailight as an upgradeable option. At this date in time, unloading 45k USD on a set of four wheels and an engine MUST include LED lights. I mean, c'mon guys. wtf. You seen a non HID caddy driving around here lately? Not where I am, they're all HID... As should all luxury brands be.

Just not BMW. Make sense??..