The F30 3 Series sedan is about halfway through its projected seven model-year lifespan, so it must be time for a facelift, or as BMW calls it, a Life Cycle Impulse (LCI). Proof that the LCI is very well along in development comes from these spy shots of the facelifted 3 Series running the Nordschleife with only a small amount of camouflage.
This particular 3 Series is a plug-in hybrid, which gives credence that the 3 Series will be the next electrified BMW to be released after the BMW x5 xDrive 40e plug-in hybrid this fall.
Judging by these spy photos, the facelift will not involve any extreme redesigns. It’s interesting to see that the taillight area is still concealed, because that is one area that BMW has said will significantly change in the coming years with the use of LEDs and eventually organic LEDs, or OLEDs.
The plug-in hybrid 3 Series would mate an electric motor with a two-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that will drive the rear wheels through an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. We should see a combined horsepower of around 245 and 295 pound-feet of torque.
Of course, fuel mileage and emissions are the reasons that BMW would make a plug-in hybrid at all. Gasoline consumption should be impressive, possibly as high as 117 miles per gallon. CO2 emissions would be 50 grams per kilometer, well below the 2021 target of 95 g/km.
In electric-drive only, a BMW 3 Series PIH would probably cover as much as 22 miles and be able to hit a top speed of 75 miles per hour. Recharging would be done using a domestic power socket, a BMW iWallbox charging station, or some public charging stations.
Industry observers expect the facelifted 3 Series sedan’s big reveal to take place in September at the Frankfort International Auto Show.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of S. Baldauf/SB-Medien via WorldCarFans.com.]
