Next BMW 3 Series (G20) spied testing

The next BMW 3 Series, codenamed G20, aims to close the gap with the new class-contenders, the latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Jaguar XE. Gone are the days of BMW hegemony in this important sector, and they’re pulling out all the stops to keep the gaps close, although we still think it’s the best steer in its class.

It’s not so long ago that Munich released a facelifted version of today’s 3 Series, but now we can lift the lid on its successor – the all-new model coming in 2018 that won’t be built if Rosslyn Pretoria anymore. The 3 Series is BMW’s best-selling model by some margin – it’s vital that they gun for class honours.

The current 3 Series is aerodynamically efficient and cleverly packaged, if a little generic. The design needs to move on, insiders admit, and it will do so by redefining the overall proportions, the relation between the more muscular body and the sleeker greenhouse, and the stance which will likely be sportier. Sharper creases, harder edges, more adventurous radii and even tighter cutlines are likely to be the outcome.