Facelift BMW 3 Series revealed for NZ

The facelift BMW 3 Series has a new grille and front aprons. Photo: BMW

The latest iteration of the BMW 3 Series will launch in New Zealand later this year, bringing a refreshed styling package, clear advances in digitalisation and enhanced levels of equipment.

The 3 Series – first launched in 1975 – is the core of the BMW brand and represents the epitome of driving pleasure and the benchmark for sporting prowess in the mid-size luxury sedan segment. 

The success of the 3 Series is reflected in its global sales results, with 16 million units of the model range sold across the generations since it first went on sale four decades ago.

It accounts for 14 percent of BMW’s vehicle sales worldwide and more than 1.1 million current-generation BMW 3 Series in both Sedan and Touring have been sold since 2019 alone.

For the 2021 calendar year, the 3 Series accounted for 11.5 per cent of BMW New Zealand’s total registrations, and 509 examples of the current generation 3 Series have sold since launch in 2019. 

There have been 6833 BMW 3 Series sales in New Zealand since New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) detailed sales data reporting commenced in 2002 a further underlining of the model’s impact and the strong impression it has made on local customers.

The facelift 3 Series gets a new front apron features clearly structured surfaces, dynamic lines and large air intakes to add even greater emphasis to the sporty appearance of both the Sedan and Touring.

Redesigned headlights and kidney grille also give the 3 Series strong visual presence, while LED headlights are now significantly slimmer, with clear contours and daytime driving lights arranged in an inverted L shape to create a harmonious and contemporary appearance.

The interior of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring benefits from a comprehensive update.

The new interpretation of the brand-typical driver focus is embodied by the standard-fit BMW Curved Display, wherein a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches merge together into a single, fully digital and high-resolution unit. This cutting-edge cockpit design has progressive digitalisation at its heart and enables the number of buttons and controls to be significantly reduced in favour of touch and voice control.

BMW New Zealand will offer the new 3 Series Sedan in 320i, 330e plug-in hybrid and M340i xDrive variants, while the 3 Series Touring will be available solely in the 320d xDrive variant.

Prices will be announced closer to launch date.