2011 BMW 3 Series Image Leaked?

Is this the 2011 BMW 3 Series, or simply a magazine-commissioned rendering?

More likely the latter, but the Bavarian automaker has hinted in the past that the stunning 2007 BMW Concept CS carries styling elements that will see production in the next 3 Series.

That, at least, seems to have been the inspiration for this speculative rendering. Whoever was behind it, this is a ripper job of transferring the Concept CS styling to a possible (rather than probable) 'next' 3 Series.

Although considerably less rakish, look closely and you'll see shared elements between the official CS Concept and the magazine rendering. These include the headlight treatment, enlarged grille, side intakes in the front bumper and the character line along the bottom of the doors, leading up into the recessed side marker.

All elements, of course, are subtler in the magazine’s rendering – presumably in an attempt to make it look a little more ‘production ready’.