The motoring internet sites and magazines are full of information on the new BMW 3 Series. As per the blog-post yesterday, this shouldn’t have happened until this coming Friday but that’s a minor detail. The information’s out there now to almost unanimous agreement that the new car takes the game on to the next level.
And this is at a time of mixed fortunes for competitors. The new Mercedes Benz C-Class has been welcomed in some quarters. By contrast, the Audi A4 Saloon, often seen as the direct competitor to the 3 Series, has not hit the spot with many independent editorial commentators.
The outgoing 3 Series was tested by Autocar magazine in March 2008 when the BMW 320d just pipped the Mercedes C-Class to win the test, thanks to its EfficientDynamics technologies. Of the C-Class, Autocar concluded, “As the best built, best handling and next best looking its strengths looked overwhelming. At least they did until we turned the key and discovered that it is undone by its engine.” But having pitted the 3 Series against (and in final order) the Mercedes Benz, Ford Mondeo, Audi A4, Renault Laguna, Alfa Romeo159, VW Passat, Lexus IS220 and Saab 9-3, Autocar concluded, “Were it not in black and white, we would simply not believe that the car with the best performance has an equally huge advantage in emissions and economy. But it does and, installed in the already pretty wondrous 3 Series chassis, it is more than enough to ensure victory here.”
And that was the outgoing model. Next month sees the first driving reviews of the new car and it goes on sale in September. Time will tell but it’s probable that the benchmark that every competitor failed to beat with the outgoing car will be even further out of reach come the autumn.
