2005 Geneva: 2005 BMW 3 Series Video

BMW reveals its new 3 Series at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show...

Transcript

00:00 The all new 5th generation BMW 3 Series debuted at this year's Geneva Auto Show.

00:21 The profile and greenhouse of this redesigned BMW remain unmistakably 3 Series, but the

00:26 sheet metal is all new.

00:29 The traditional kidney-shaped twin grilles have evolved into closely spaced, nearly rectangular

00:34 features, and the headlamps are more sharply angled than before.

00:38 A strong feature line runs from the front to rear fenders through the door handles.

00:42 The rocker panels have a gently upward curving cut and the upper curve of the tail lamps

00:46 now flows uninterrupted from the rear fender onto the trunk lid.

00:51 Interior design themes from the current 7 Series are reflected inside the new 3 Series.

00:56 The instrument cluster now has just two large dials, and a more chiseled dashboard span

01:00 features an information screen placed high on the center stack.

01:04 3 Series sedans equipped with navigation also get the controversial iDrive controller, but

01:09 climate and sound system controls are largely operated by separate conventional buttons.

01:14 Under the hood European versions will get inline 4s and diesels, while stateside cars

01:19 will be powered by a new 3.0L inline 6.

01:22 The 325i will be rated at 215 horsepower, while the 330i will be the "high output"

01:28 version with 255 horsepower.

01:31 Manual or Steptronic automatic transmissions will both have 6 speeds, and the active steering

01:35 system pioneered on the 5 and 6 Series will be optional on the new 3 Series.

01:40 The 2006 3 Series is scheduled to bow in U.S. showrooms in March of '05.

01:45 Wagon coupe and convertible versions will roll out in later model years.

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