Perpetuating Dominance

With a new platform, more spacious cabin, extended wheelbase, suspension designed especially for driving pleasure, the seventh-generation BMW 3 Series aims to retain its throne in the mid-size sedan segment.

- Andrea Stassano

It was long anticipated by everyone in the industry, but the latest generation of the 3 Series – seventh since its launch in 1975 – had to patiently wait for its turn to arrive. And, naturally so, for in the last few months, BMW has been busy producing new models as if they were candies – X4, X5, Z4, 8 Series and X7. But the wait is over now, for the date of the commercial launch of this new model has been fixed for March 2019. And while the public got a chance to admire this new model for the first time at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend some time with it a few days before the official launch. And that means we can give you a first-hand account of how this mid-size sporty sedan has transformed, and to what effect – something that’s of strategic importance both for BMW and the segment.