The sixth generation BMW 3 Series Sedan is set to redefine benchmarks in the premium car category. Built upon a rich history that is deep rooted in BMW's DNA, the new 3 Series promises outstanding attributes that are bound to set it apart. It's an enticing car that loves to be driven as we found out from Adil Jal Darukhanawala and Vikram Gour who got a chance to experience the new 3 Series range first hand in Barcelona, Spain

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If you were to go looking for the quintessential BMW, it would have to be the 3 Series. Now in its sixth avatar, and doing away with the ‘Bangled’ lines, the new 3 Series is the amalgamation of 36 years of history and five generations of a car that has the distinction of being the world’s best-selling premium car. No doubt the new 3 Series has a lot to live up to, but the wizards at BMW have now made it an art form in developing the best and then making it even better! The BMW 3 Series Sedan has come to symbolise the aesthetic appeal, dynamics and sporting capability of BMW. It has grown in size as compared to its predecessor; however the genes remain intact in offering you one of the best drivers’ cars available off the shelf today.

The sixth generation model has done away with the flame surfacing introduced by Chris Bangle; however it still sports dynamic elegant lines. The basis of the design is governed by the sweeping bonnet, short overhang, long wheelbase and the set-back greenhouse which is now symbolic of all BMWs. The front is dominated by the new face of BMW featuring flat headlights, with LED accents above the twin corona rings, which stretch all the way to the large kidney grille. The snout is raked to give the car an aggressive look and the multi faceted character lines add the element of movement and width to the front. It’s an intense stare, almost as if the 3 Series is looking ahead with a purposeful look hunting for prey and smug in the belief that it would do so and take it down! The single central air intake on the predecessor has been done away with and has been replaced by two larger intakes positioned under the headlights and run towards the outer edges of the body. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, these air intakes also work to improve airflow around the front wheels and thereby enhancing overall aerodynamics and thus reducing fuel consumption at high speeds. The marriage of engineering and aesthetics is a BMW norm and the new 3 Series is a testament to this line of thought. While you can spend all day staring at the front end, BMW has ensured that aesthetically the new 3 Series is sense and sensibility personified from any angle.

When viewed in profile, the silhouette of the 3 Series is unmistakable. The strong shoulder line, pronounced wheel arcs filled with those gorgeous 225/50 R17 tyres (205/60 R16 for the diesel variants) and the typical BMW slant to the entire roofline give the 3 Series its family look. Despite the car being extended by 93mm and an increased wheelbase of 50mm, the proportions remain slick and sporty, which are again attributes that are well associated with the 3 Series. The clean lines run all the way to the back and the flanks feature the ‘double swage line’, essentially two character lines that run alongside each other. While the higher line adds an element of length, the lower one ushers in a sporty overtone which in turns draws attention to the car’s aggressive stance. The rear has received more of a family look and is rather similar to the current 5 Series sedan, however the strong lines and typical BMW touches to the surface ensure that the rear sums up the entire exterior design package with élan.

In order to increase the new sedan’s sporty appeal, BMW has also widened the front and rear track by 37mm and 47mm respectively. While the body width remains the same as its predecessor, the slightly protruding wheels add the final touch in terms of sporty aesthetics in establishing the sporty aura of the new 3 Series. The wider track also has healthy repercussions in the ride and handling department, but more on that later.

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