Our spy photographers have been capturing 2013 BMW 3-series prototypes in the wild for several months, and now the car has been caught sans camouflage by an F30Post reader, who was apparently in a hot-air balloon over Munich. (For the rest of the photos, head over to the post here.) Unsurprisingly, the 2013 3-series looks like a smaller 5-series, and shares that car’s square-shouldered look. The new car’s straighter lines and creased details put the current 3′s curving body creases and “flame surfaced” sheetmetal in the past. We can also see that a head-up display will be available on the 3 for the first time, and it appears like the model may be ditching its current two-tone interior treatments for a more monochromatic look. Further details gleaned from the photos: The side mirrors gain redundant turn signals, the front end appears to wear more brightwork than past 3er sedans, and the hood’s front cut line now crosses behind the roundel rather than along the top of the kidney grilles.
The styling of the 2013 3er may be toned down, but as we’ve previously reported, the car’s powertrain lineup will undergo a fairly radical shift to being all turbocharged. A turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder will serve as the base engine, and a turbocharged inline-six will again be available. When the new 3-series goes on sale sometime next year, buyers will be able to spec either a six-speed manual or a new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission (a dual-clutch automatic remains a third possibility). Expect the 2013 3-series to debut at next month’s Frankfurt auto show.
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