2023 BMW 3-Series Gains Crisper Styling, Curved Digital Display

• the 2023 bmw 3-series gets updated styling, with an angular front bumper and slimmer led headlights.
• the interior gets a curved display that combines a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen.
• the engine lineup carries over, with the 330i using a four-cylinder, the 330e pairing the four-pot with an electric motor, and the m340i powered by an inline-six.

the 3-series used to be bmw's bread and butter, and while it has been surpassed by the x3 and x5 crossovers in overall sales, the 3-series is still bmw's bestselling car and a significant barometer for the brand's direction. now, after four model years, bmw is giving the 3 series a makeover, bringing sleeker styling and an updated interior while carrying over the engine lineup.

the visual changes are subtle but create a sharper, more geometric design. the kidney grille has less rounded edges, while the headlights feature redesigned led signatures and do away with the little indent along the bottom. the bumper has a boxier lower grille sandwiched by l-shaped vents, and the rear bumper features a similarly angular look. the standard 18-inch wheels also have a new design, while a new skyscraper grey paint color is available across the lineup. the m340i adds a new brooklyn grey hue, which can also be specced with the m sport package, as seen here, on the 330i and 330e. bmw notes that these images show the european model, but we expect the u.s.-market vehicle to look the same.

the m sport package also adds interior trim, an m leather steering wheel, variable sport steering, unique 19-inch wheels, and on the 330i, m sport suspension, which can be swapped for adaptive m suspension with electronic damping. the latter is also a stand-alone option on the 330i and 330e and part of the dynamic handling package. the m340i also gets its own styling cues, featuring a mesh kidney grille, new 18-inch wheels (with an optional 19-inch upgrade), trapezoidal exhaust pipes, and a body-color rear spoiler. the 2023 m340i will also be offered with the bmw motorsport badge to honor m's 50th anniversary.

inside, the 3-series gets a new curved display that combines a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen. bmw says the number of buttons and controls has been reduced thanks to more reliance on touch and voice controls. the air vents and some trim pieces have also been redesigned, while the gear knob has been replaced by a small lever. the idrive infotainment system runs the latest bmw operating system and includes the cloud-based bmw maps navigation system and a more adept intelligent personal assistant that responds to voice commands.

the 3-series engine lineup remains the same as the 2022 model year. the base 330i uses a 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, while the 330e plug-in hybrid adds an electric motor to that engine to produce 288 horsepower and 23 miles of all-electric range. the m340i is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 48-volt hybrid technology and 382 horses. all engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic and are available with optional all-wheel-drive. bmw says the new 2023 3-series will launch in the united states in july of this year, and pricing details and images of the american-market car should become available closer to the on-sale date.

source:caranddriver.com