2012 next gen BMW 3 Series chassis mule first spy photos

2012 BMW 3 Series mule spy photo

Spy shot of chassis mule reveals larger dimensions for next generation BMW 3 series

By Alex Ricciuti
January 9, 2009 5:40 PM
Filed Under: BMW, German, Spy Photos

The debut of the next generation BMW 3 Series is still several years away but here we get an inkling as to what's coming.

But an inkling is all we get. This is a BMW 3 series chassis testing mule so there are no design hints available here. We can have a look at the dimensions, though, and artfully deduce that the next generation 3 series will have a longer and wider wheel base. The car is growing. Well, they always do, don't they?

BMW will be testing this mule for about a year until next winter when it begins trials on an actual 3 series prototype. Only then can we begin the barrage of criticism that hits BMW every time they restyle even their stationary. They went to far, they didn't go far enough, etc. etc. But at the end of the day BMW is still the most cutting-edge premium brand around and most critics admit, sometimes grudgingly, that their models are consistently well-crafted works of automotive ingeny.

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Comments

pousa13

January 9, 2009 6:09 PM

i´m not sure if it´s really a mule of the 2012 3 series. could also be a mule for the confirmed 3 series pac/mpv thing (like the one thats already rolling based on the 5 series)

dbehmoaras

January 9, 2009 7:05 PM

i disagree because then the prelim testing data would be off due to significant differences in weight distribution. it makes more sense for a new 3 series because by 2012 the current 3 will have already been 7yrs in the running, and frankly, bmw is relatively quick to update their cars (the new 7er, for example, the old one has only been around for 3 yrs, and the one before that only 4 yrs, give or take a year) also, if bmw were to have a mule for the mpv or pac as u say, they would probably use the 3wagon/estate

big_himey

January 11, 2009 5:28 AM

dbehmoaras is wrong. The last three generations of 7 series have been around for atleast 7 years each. In most countries... E32: 88-94 albeit a facelift from 6cyl grille to 8cyl larger grille (already available on V12). E38 95-01 but with minor facelift in '99. E65/66 (i/iL) 02-08 albeit with facelift in '05. Seven years, therefore, is not a bad guess.

alessandro

January 9, 2009 6:20 PM

Nice mule. Thanks!

U.D

January 9, 2009 7:48 PM

coool

stillthewhizz

January 9, 2009 9:27 PM

They've used a pre facelift car for the mule. The 3er is now more cohesive.

Tuner_Mad

January 9, 2009 9:38 PM

Oh come on. Now that I get used to the facelift's styling, they are rolling out a new one? As long as it ain't along the lines of the X1 or 7, it's ok by me.

joshg_5

January 9, 2009 10:27 PM

AHHHHH!

I HATE THIS!

Why are all the respectable car companies making their cars so Gosh Darn Fudging HUGE!

It's the size of an outgoing 5-series!?!?!?!?

The 3-series is supposed to be a "compact"-small car.

If that's not what you want, buy a Flippin' 5-Series!

I'm losing respect for these amazing companies each time I see what's coming...

khd

January 10, 2009 3:58 AM

one of the biggest critisms of the e92 was its relativley small cabin (especially in the back).

but i dont think they can do much worse then the e92 styling wise so any change is a good change imo.

i cant wait to see the the new engine specs cuz the current crop is awesome!!

schnell

January 10, 2009 4:22 AM

the new one should look amazing just like all the new ones do that are styled with the concept cs in mind; theres no doubt this will be my next car; cant wait for camoed pics to surface!!!!

BMWKing

January 10, 2009 8:35 AM

I must agree with the size of these cars that are growing all the time, but the current 3 is a decent size although it is as big as the 7 series from 30 years ago... but it is what we need today.

Talking of size, nothing can compare to the rediculous A4's size that is as big as the current A6 without much more benefit in cabin space from the older A4. The Q7, which is an X5 competitor is also rediculously huge and cannot even fit in most garages.

When the 1 Sereis starts growing, I wonder if they will have a 0 Series or "negative" Series lol

lucifa

January 10, 2009 10:53 AM

Alex Ricciuti, i like the way you cut down the bangle-bashers before they even have a chance to respond to the article. kudos to you for your efforts to stop the bandwagon. =)

schnell

January 10, 2009 2:46 PM

yeah i like that last paragraph.....very true and well-put

Pentium

January 11, 2009 3:27 AM

totally agree!

plasma_cluster

January 11, 2009 1:01 AM

same old comments year after year. "oh liked the old one better" etc. BMW just keeps on top. get it through your minds that the german automakers arent going anywhere and no one is ever going to catch them just like no one has in the past!

Kalos

January 12, 2009 2:09 PM

I saw some artists impression of the next three. The car looked so good and i could clearly see the CS concept features in it but a bit 'watered down'. I think BMW should actually cut down the life of their cars from 7 years to 5 years like Audi has done with the lat A4. Competition is so tight today that you do not want to be caught napping unless of course Beemer is playing the 'wait' and 'see' game like the other two have done so much in the past.

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