[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

2012 BMW F30 3-series 335i Back Testing On Nurburgring (+ VIDEO)

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It's been months since the F30 sedan has been spotted testing on the Nurburgring, but this F30 335i sedan was just spotted today making testing runs on the ring. This is the first space gray F30 prototype to be spied.

The last time the F30 was on the Nurburgring, it was in much heavier camouflage, but now appears in the latest level of camouflage and with premium wheels, first seen on the recent white F30 photos.

The F30 3-series sedan will begin production in November 2011, shortly after the E90 3-series stops production. The F30 2012 Model Year will run until June 2012, upon which point it will switch to the 2013 Model Year.

As this schedule shows, the F30 3-series will come as 328i and 335i models. The 328i will most certainly be powered by the 'N20' turbo 4-cylinder inline engine (as found in the Z4 28i, details) and the 335i by a turbo 6-cylinder inline motor. Output will be in the ballpark of 245hp and 306hp, respectively.

F30 sales are expected to begin in Europe around the time of its world public premiere at the 2011 Geneva show - in March, 2012. US sales should begin in late Spring of 2012. Usually, production starts just two or three months prior to market launch, but we assume BMW will use the four months' time between production start and market launch to build enough demo cars for their dealerships around the globe.

See our F30 spy photo mega compilation thread at http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524810

Follow our full F30 coverage at http://www.bimmerpost.com/3-series/f30/


UPDATED WITH VIDEO:




Updated photos as of 7/20/11:
















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[rbrown81]

1st!

Nice

[TxBeem]

2nd! Woohoo!

[discoboy1]

looks too much like a 5 series... good or bad...

Blinkers in mirrors, they should be more discrete

[Jason]

Originally Posted by discoboy1

Blinkers in mirrors, they should be more discrete

The orange tape is just camouflage. The actual lights underneath will be discrete, like on the upcoming F20 1-series.

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by rbrown81

1st!

Nice

Really?


I wonder if the 335i will get an early upgrade(a la e90) since it seems to be the exact same engine. I am also disappointed the moved the sidemarkers to the side view mirrors. I liked having them on the body work, and often part of the lines of the car.

[BimmerGuyFL]

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

That BETTER NOT have electric steering.

Sorry to bust your bubble but the new F30 3-series will also have Electric Power Steering just as it shares the platform with the F20 and F25 1-series and X3 suspension and steering systems. These three platforms use Electric Power Steering.

[E92LNGCGY]

As others have said a scaled down F10 which isn't bad.
Those rims look like 19's.

[bmrm396]

thought BMW was working on keepin weight down on these puppies? seems like a whole lotta body roll to me ...

[宝马.e90]

I just can't wait to see the tail lights revealed. The front is pretty much a given with the grille being in line with the 5er and 7er. From the side view, it looks like an M3 with the slight arch on the hood. I feel like the F30 is going to be amazing and have less criticism than the E90 (although everybody eventually grew to love it and now probably going to miss it!)

[dlbrooks18]

The car looks good, lines flow nicely a la the new 5 series.. the car looks bigger than the current 3 series that's for sure.

[gunnerxq]

Why won't it be a 325i and a 330i first? The names were around for years so why would they stop using them?

[DDS2015]

Wheels look good. Body roll doesn't. Hopefully it's being driven in comfort mode instead of sport+.

[Diver]

Quite a long gap between the start of production and sales. That may be as much to get the production process "just right". This car has to be perfect, especially with the N20, as the 328 accounts for about half the BMW brand in North America (not including Mini).

[lepp0012]

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

That BETTER NOT have electric steering.

I agree, but it will.

[Dimitris]

the proportions are not good as seen from the spy shots...

[esqu1re]

Shape looks very much like a e9x.

[DTM-R13]

why does the 3 series always look so small?

[bavarian19]

nice!

[bimmerJP]

the new 1 series is just bad, but I really like f30 I saw so far!
The rear end looks like f10, I really dont know this is a bad thing or good thing.
the only thing i know is, this will be WAY BETTER than f20!
cant wait to see the coupe!

[IancoleTX]

Sheesh, high waistline much? Looks frigging tall.

Besides that, looks very good. However, I hope BMW realizes that electric steering on the 3 will be a slap in the face to all of their driving enthusiast owners.. the electric steering on the 5 is bland, artificial, and widely panned in reviews by everyone from automotive professionals to your average owner. I pray they DO NOT carry it over to the next generation 3.

[Jason]

Preview of the rear, from one of our recent renders:










For reference, the render was based off this real life spy photo: