INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH
Driving dynamics still at core of 3 Series
Members of the BMW 3 Series project team speak at its recent Paris motor show reveal
Watching BMW’s press conference at the Paris motor show, it was possible to think that the reveal of the seventh generation 3 Series was not a big deal in a changing global market, one where BMW has changed production of the 3 Series after decades in SA to the new X3. However, when the G20, the next generation 3 Series arrives in SA in March 2019, it will be as much a cornerstone of the brand as ever. “Ten years ago, the SUV market was more or less dead,” says Thomas Bauemer, head of project BMW 3 Series. “In 2008 we were thinking how long X5 will be around. “Every fifth BMW is a 3 Series sedan. The SUV market is growing but up to now we have sold 50-million 3 Series over the last 40 years and it is still a very important market for us,” says Bauemer. “It’s a huge segment,” says Stephan Horn, head of product management BMW 3 and 4 Series. “Even though in some countries, us coming from Germany, the sedan doesn’t play the role it played 20 years ago, but the Touring [station wagon] is...
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