Although the price for a base BMW 330i remains exactly the same, the BMW 3-series has improved in almost every single way.

Big news from BMW earlier today (Oct. 2, 2018) as they’ve finally taken the wraps off its new and improved BMW 3-series, a car that’s been in the making arguably since the previous generation debuted in 2011. This BMW is larger in almost every respect, sports a more focused look, has more power, is ready for an autonomous future when that comes, and manages to be 121 pounds lighter after it all.

First, BMW addressed the elephant in the room and that’s that their best-selling 3-series is growing exponentially larger for 2019. Whenever their press release mentions increased storage space, room for its passengers, and an overall better handling chassis, it’s largely thanks to its growth in length, width, and height.

 The new 3 Series Sedan is 2.9 inches longer than its predecessor, 0.6 inches wider and 0.5 inches taller…The car’s 1.6 inch longer wheelbase and increased track widths of +1.7 inches front and +0.8 inches rear, meanwhile, have a direct and positive influence on its poise and agility.

Underneath the hood, the standard 330i gets more power, +7 HP and +37 lb-ft compared to last year’s model. BMW has achieved this engineering feat largely due to optimizing most of the BMW B48, an inline four-cylinder turbocharged gas engine in production since 2014.

Don’t get it twisted if you see BMW put that it’s all-new engine, it’s the same architecturally designed engine you’ll find in the Mini Cooper S. But, it’s a good engine!

Total power numbers are 255 HP and 295 lb-ft.

Be not afraid if you’re hankering for more power and can’t live with a 0-60 MPH time of 5.6 seconds as the M340i and subsequent M340Xi is also on the way. That engine makes a whopping 382 HP and 369 lb-ft.

Both the 330I and M340I have BMW X-Drive as optional if you want your 3-series to be slower.

No manual is offered in the United States since we’re only getting an 8-speed manual. Jalopnik reports that this 8-speed automatic is faster than you can ever shift, so tough cookies America.

BMW has improved handling by leaps and bounds for 2019 by introducing a new damper system dubbed “lift-related.”

 The system adds extra hydraulic damping at the front axle and a compression limiting system at the rear. It is continuously variable and adjusts the damper firmness progressively according to the changing spring travel. This prevents excessive body dive when driving over large bumps and so avoids uncomfortable, nervous damping response.

Expect this 3-series to be marginally better handling and comfortable compared to last year’s model.

As far as looks are concerned, probably to mainly address its growth in size, the BMW 3-series looks plenty sharper, chiseled, and more athletic than ever before, trying its best to hide its growth.

Inside, noise, vibration, and harshness are further improved by redesigning the air ducts and outlets and overall better managing how air flows over the new 3-series. The sleeker Cd. probably helps, too.

LED Headlights are now standard on all BMW 3-series with laser lights optional.

When I said BMW was preparing this 3-series for the future, I was talking about autonomous driving and EV power.

For 2019, BMW says that their driver’s assistance package has an

Extensively expanded range of driver assistance systems paves the way to automated driving:

BMW says their standard active cruise control and optional lane departure warning is good enough for 130 MPH. OK! If you’re cruising at 130 MPH, don’t! You’ll have to go for the optional driving assistant package that includes lane departure warning and blind spot detection to get active steering input that, when coupled with active cruise control, gives you that semi-automated driving experience.

BMW gives no details on this 330e but it’s going to be an all-electric BMW 3-series or, at the very least, a hybrid assist BMW 3-series.

So, the new 3-series is here and it’s better in every single way. With a similar MSRP, if not the same as last year’s model, use this to your advantage if you’re haggling with a BMW dealership on a better deal on a MY 2016 BMW 3-series still sitting on a dealership floor.

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