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The seventh generation of the world’s best-selling premium car is sportier, more sophisticated, stylish and desirable

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“IT’S THE SPORTIEST 3 SERIES ever,” say BMW’s engineers as they hand over the keys to the seventh generation of the best-selling BMW — the heart of the brand and the car that gave birth to the so-called ‘sports sedan’ segment. And in the next breath they add, “It is the most autonomous 3 Series ever”.

Welcome to the dichotomy of today’s car engineer. On the one hand there’s BMW’s heritage of great driver’s cars, something that cannot be compromised on, come what may. And on the other hand is today’s obsession with autonomous driving, connected this, assisted that. What we have then is a car that is sportier than it has ever been, yet you don’t have to bother driving it at all — at least up to 60kmph.

G20 replaces F30

If you’re even mildly interested in BMWs you have to remember model codes. E21 was the first 3 Series. E90 was the first 3 Series to be made in India. F30 is the outgoing 3 and this new one, due to come to India in mid-2019, is G20. And thus armed you can now impress your mates.

So what’s new in the G20? Well, everything. The new 3 Series is 76mm longer, 16mm wider and just 1mm taller. Back seat comfort has become increasingly important, even to BMW, and so the wheelbase is stretched by 41mm to 2851mm while the track widths have been extended by 43mm and 21mm at the front and rear. All of this makes for excellent proportions, very evidently sporty, aided by BMW’s characteristic cab rearward stance that highlights its rear-drive nature.