The Updated BMW 3 Series Sedan Surfaces In China

• Updates on the outside include a restyled front bumper, reworked LED headlights with new arrow-shaped LED DRLs, and black accents.

• Cabin could get i4 electric sedan’s twin-screen infotainment and digital driver’s display setup with BMW's latest i-DRIVE 8 UI.

• Likely to be powered by petrol, diesel, and possibly all-electric powertrain options.

• India-spec model could get the mid-life refresh later in 2022.

Looks like BMW is preparing to give the seventh-gen 3 Series sedan a mid-cycle update, as images of the updated model have been leaked in China. From the looks of it, this executive sedan will see a fair amount of updates. 

First things first, the 3 Series will get the standard sized grille, as opposed to the obscenely large kidney grille up front like the 4 Series. That being said, the bumper has been restyled to incorporate a more pronounced air dam, complemented by revised LED headlamps with new arrow-style LED DRLs. Other noticeable bits include blacked-out elements on the front and what looks like the rear bumper in these spy images.

i4 interior image used for representational purposes

We’re yet to have a look inside, but it is expected to get most of the changes, including a new cabin and dashboard layout. The updated 3 Series could borrow the all-electric i4’s twin-screen setup, comprising the 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and 14.6-inch infotainment unit. The latter also utilises BMW's latest i-DRIVE 8 user interface.

Technical specifications are yet to surface, but we think the 3 Series will get petrol, diesel, and possibly an all-electric powertrain. In India, the 3 Series is offered with 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and diesel engines as well as in the performance-focused M340i that utilises a 387PS/500Nm 3.0-litre straight-six turbo-petrol engine.

The facelifted BMW 3 Series sedan could debut around 2022, with an India launch at a later stage. Expect a price premium over the current model that retails from Rs 43.60 lakh to Rs 62.90 lakh (ex-showroom). It rivals the likes of the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe and the Audi S5 Sportback.  

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