BMW's Development Boss Is Tired Of E46 CSL 'Last Real 3-Series' Claims
Even ‘ordinary’, non-M BMW saloons tend to feel better to drive than much of the competition, but it seems with the new G20 3-series, the German company was especially determined to make the car a damn fine steer.
Talking to Motoring, BMW development boss Klaus Frohlich said:
“It has to beat everybody in the segment in driving dynamics because all the Australian, UK and American journalists say ‘ooh the E46 CSL was the last real 3 Series.
“I do not want to hear that s—t anymore.”
Yikes. Strong words, but BMW’s plan to blow away all the other compact execs is pretty clear when you see what’s been done to the car. Compared to the F30 3-series, the front and rear tracks are wider, there’s more negative camber at the front, while the suspension mountings and the body itself are all stiffer.
So what does all that - plus BMW’s other refinements for the G20 - actually mean for the way the car drives? “First thing and this is for me the most important thing; you can drive fast and completely relaxed. You don’t feel how fast you are,” Frohlich explained. “Second thing and this thing is a big achievement; this car is much more valuable, it has much better materials and it is solid like a rock,” he added, going on to note the stiffer nature of the ‘CLAR’ cluster architecture upon which the car is built.
We’ll let you know if it’s paid off once we’ve had our first drive of the G20, which goes on sale 9 March 2019.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
When a Non car guy gets a job in the field of cars
People want a raw car.
he gives us a refined saloon.
I wanna see you try and get a profit
I cant help but feel that Klaus Frohlich and by extension BMW, have got it wrong. When motoring journos talk about the E46 CSL being “the last real 3 series”, its not because of outright driving dynamics but more on how the car feels. Widening front and rear track, stiffer suspension and body etc may well make it the best drive in class, but it doesn’t bring the magic that E46 and earlier 3 series had. To capture that, they would need to: 1 shorten the wheelbase, 2 cut about 150-200 kg of mass, 3 shrink the outside dimensions and 4 soften the suspension.
Or they should make a sedan version of the 1/2 series.
Shorten wheelbase? Why would you want that? A longer wheelbase is far superior, as you get better agility, as you have a better turn in through turning. Like a go kart.
It’s only what’s past the Wheelbase that counts.(trunk and front bumpers).
Dude. Do you have ANY IDEA how hard it is to remove just 50kg from a car? And you expect for companies to easily remove 200kg? Seriously?!
Soften suspension? Doesn’t that just make any point you made so far about Performance redundant?
And a sedan version of the 1 series? No pls.
the last thing I want is a cheap BMW CLA and A3 rival (i.e those cars are the worst)
realizes thats just describing the M2
I also think the 2 doors are better than 4 on any M car
Yup, would have a lot more respect for the guy if he took a leaf out of VWs book. Explain that the current 3 series market doesn’t want a niche e46-esque enthusiast ‘fun’ car. But openly claim that they’re new M2 is all the fun of the old M3 in a less techy package with sensible power figures and a manual box.
How to best the E46:
1) Make the 3 series a 3 series. Smaller in all dimensions.
2) Make it weight less than 1400kg
3) Make it have a characterful engine, N/A or a Turbo that builds boost ala 80s 911
4) Manual
5) Something that feels more agile and more “D*ck threateningly quick”
It’s not 2005 anymore
No way can you get an executive saloon under 1400kg. Hell even actual sports cars don’t weigh that less. why? SAFETY AND TECH. which is what MOST BUYERS WANT.
80s Turbo, is the WORST TURBO TO HAVE IN A MODERN CAR. Under 4000rpm would have zero power. Suddenly, anything over that, and you end up in a ditch.
On fire.
Manual? Actually I do want that tbh. The F80 had it, so I think it would carry over to this.
Agile? Boi no ones even driven the damn thing yet. And it’s a BMW. THEIR CARS ARE AGILE ENOUGH. what do you want? A 718 Cayman agile!?
A compact executive saloon that will past modern safety test while carrying a straight 6 and weights less than 1400kg.
You might as well tell them to build a car without an interior.
“You don’t feel how fast you are” THAT’S THE FRIGGIN’ PROBLEM. An example of this is the previous M3. You’re so fu cking insulated and isolated from the experience that the car goes through the trouble of playing fake engine noise through the speakers! Driving fast but also completely relaxed is a very good thing, the G20 certainly 1-ups the E46 there but as for not feeling fast, that’s where the issue lies. It certainly doesn’t help that the M3 is now 4-door only and is bigger and heavier than any E46 ever was
Also, not feeling the speed makes people drive much faster and I think becomes more dangerous.
Just buy an M4, if you don’t want a 4 door.
They just changed a name
I swear, these comments here, kinda feel like the CT community know nothing about making a modern car.
If you want a sedan from 2005, go buy one, and stop complaining about newer cars, as most definitely, you won’t buy one for the next decade
99% reason the sport cars are dying because people are not buying them.
Instead, they sit on their ass and complain on the keyboard.
No sales, No manufacture. Simple as that.
I never understand people who are complaining about modern cars have things like thick pillars and bigger overall dimension without even giving an inch of thought of the vastly improved safety performance. They seriously should watch this video of the 90s Nissan Sentra get absolutely obliterated by the 2016 Nissan Versa (which is not even a really safe vehicle in the first place). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85OysZ_4lp0
Safety has been and always will be the top priority when I choose my car. A car can be fun to drive, very powerful and nicely equipped, but if it is not safe, it will get a no no from me. That is why I will never shop for a old car.
Well, i feel like most of the CT community is 12 year old boys who follow memes and trends and haven’t really driven anything newer to have an opinion of their own…
A-FCKING-MEN BRUTHA
Then make it smaller, lighter and less powerful so it can be N/A again! The 3 series has become a bit of a boat over the last decade. Little wonder enthusiasts are turning towards the M2, the car that is truly closest to an E46 coupe.
Why would you want to make it smaller? People want big cars from these type of cars.
And an N/A in 2018? Doubt it’ll happen
Pros of weight:
-more power
-more safety (within reason)
-more technology
-more luxury
-more reliability (robust components)
-more durability (cheap plastics in the engine bay are a big NO)
-more stability (within reason)
-more space
cons of weight:
-less agility
-worse cornering
-slower acceleration
cons of weight reduction:
-MASSIVE increase in materials cost
-decrease in comfort
-decrease in robustness/reliability
Within reason, it’s very easy to see that in most driving situations for a ROAD car, the benefits of car design that may increase weight WITHIN REASON by far outweigh the cons. The cons can even be partially remedied with increased power, better tires and a different suspension setup. Plus, the cons really only apply to the limits of a car, but road cars aren’t built to be driven at 10/10 all the time anyways. Buy a true dedicated sports car if you desire that rawness, not an entry-level executive sedan.
The 3-series main goal is to please as many buyers as possible, really. It’s the least niche BMW product.
Tbh, the e46 was a meh car, the w203 mercedes was soo much better. The m3 versions were good, but the average ones were just average at best. The new bmw 320d is way more fun than the e46 320d. I think that they should focus on the e36, that’s were the fun is at. From the 318is to the m3 lightweight. The e46 320i is no fun at all, even the 325i, while the e36 325i is a beast of a machine.
Opinions can differ so much… Where is the F20 320d any fun? I drive it daily since two months for many hours. The 8-speed automatic is great. The rest of the car is average as best. It’s not fun at all! The comparison with the E46 320d isn’t completely fair since diesel engines have developed a lot in the last 20 years. I’ve only driven gasoline powered E46‘s and I enjoyed the sixcylinders a lot. Fun and nimble cars! Very similar to the E36.
And W203? That’s a parody of a Mercedes…
Enthusiasts are so attached to the E46, and for good reason. So, no amount of sheer driving pleasure, gokart like handling can make enthusiasts choose the new G20 over the E46. Not to say the G20 is bad, but we will choose the E46 any day if given the option. Its like you can play Fortnite all day but still feel Contra is better. Nostalgia. (Just an example btw :) )
Actually id compare the G20 to the E46 to CSGO ans CS 1.6
unless youre a diehard fan of 1.6, you’d be better off with CSGO
Fröhlich be like… Okay, I will leave.
How about durabilty and reliability?