2012 BMW 3 Series To Debut This Week

BMW has announced that it will complete its new sedan line-up this week, with the 2012 3 Series set for a debut in Munich on Friday (early Satuday for Australia).

The news follows the launch last year of the new 5 Series large car range, and the unveiling of the new 1 Series hatch in June. BMW also launched the brand-new 6 Series this year.

The new 3 Series, known as the 'F30', will be the sixth generation in the line. Munich has yet to reveal any technical details for the new model, although recent reports have shed some light on what we can expect.

The line-up is expected to start with the 316i, powered by a 100kW turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

The mid-range offerings will be made up of the 135kW 320i, and the 180kW 328i, both likely the N20 four-cylinder engine that stars in the updated 5 Series.

At the top of the sub-M petrol range will be the 335i, driven by BMW's 3.0 litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbo engine, producing 225kW.

An ActiveHybrid 3 is also expected, pairing the 3.0 litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor - just as BMW has done with the ActiveHybrid 5.

On the diesel front will be a range of turbocharged four-cylinder diesels, opening with the 85kW 316d and topping out with the 323d.

BMW's EfficientDynamics technologies is expected to be a major element in the new 3 Series, with low-drag aerodynamics and fuel-saving systems playing a role.

Watch this space for more details later in the week.