An extensive gallery of images from the design development process of the new Bmw 3 Series Coupé, which debuts at the Paris Motor Show.

Design

Although the character of the newest BMW Coupe, internally-designated E92, is recognizable from the very first glance, the graphic design of the headlights, the detail of the taillights, the interior and even the exterior mirrors were specifically created for the this model.

“It’s all about proportions. The Coupe’s long hood reflects BMW’s adherence to its tradition of inline six-cylinder engines. The long wheelbase, short overhangs, the passenger compartment set back and the low, sleek roofline which seamlessly slopes into the trunk are all characteristics of BMW Coupes.”

In addition to the classic proportions, three design lines – the shoulder, character and sill lines – serve to enhance the sleek appearance. Both the shoulder line and character line stretch uninterrupted to the back of the car, allowing one’s eye to move quickly and smoothly from front to rear along the entire length of the car.

The sill line of the lower edge of the door flows into the front and rear air dams, reinforcing the dynamic nature.

The combination of lines flowing into one another elegantly emphasizes the Coupe’s performance potential. While the shoulder line rises slightly but consistently from front to rear, the character line flows in a long, stretched arch all the way from the front fender to the taillights.

As the sill line, by contrast, moves up slightly to the rear in a slow and gentle curve, the distance between the character and sill lines becomes smaller near the rear wheel arches.

The fender flare around each rear wheel also serves to give the character line extra tension in both an upward and outward direction.

The front view also shows a significant distinction from the 3 Series Sedan and Sports Wagon. The contours of the hood as well as the design of the front air dam and headlights give the new BMW 3 Series Coupe a particularly low and sporty look.

The powerdome on the hood alludes to the exhilarating driving experience that awaits. Its lines form a powerful silhouette extending all the way from the A-pillars to the outside corners of the BMW kidney grille.

The kidney grille, a traditional feature of every BMW, stands out from the surfaces around it. Interaction with the three-dimensional kidney frame creates a look of power and unique style.

The headlight units on the new BMW 3 Series Coupe also have a unique look.

With the hood extending beyond the headlights as such, they appear to have been sliced-off at the top creating a sense of powerful, concentrated focus.

The design of the taillights is also unique to this model.

Integrated flush into the body of the car, the lights are split into two sections and extend up the trunk lid, blending with the character lines from the side profile.

Horizontal LED taillights give the car an unmistakable look atnight.

The horizontal flowing lines accentuate the wide track and low stance of the new Coupe.The designers’ objective was to give the new 3 Series Coupe a balanced and harmonious look.

The traditional “Hofmeister kink” at the bottom edge of the C-pillar now extends at an even more distinct angle into the shoulder line.

To further accentuate this flow of lines, the window accent surround is now made in one single piece.

The exterior mirrors have been specifically designed and matched to the unique character of the 3 Series Coupe.

The contours of the mirrors reflect the profile lines while the mirrors blend with the car’s overall design.

Interior

The interior is focused on the driving experience, and puts the accent on individual style, dynamic performance and exclusivity.

Horizontal lines dominate the surfaces on and around the instrument panel which blend with the lines of the center console door panels to give the interior a light but dynamic feel.

Materials and trim

In the passenger cabin the dash, front and rear consoles, doors and rear side panels are made with Dark Burl Walnut wood trim as standard. Light Poplar wood and Brushed Aluminum trim are optional and Gray Poplar wood, similar to the 5 Series’ Maple Anthracite, is a new choice.

The standard leatherette upholstery is available in Black and new Creme Beige, which is lighter then the familiar Sand Beige. For the optional leather upholstery, the softer and more luxurious Dakota grade replaces the previous Montana grade as in the 3 Series Sedans and Sports Wagons.

Here too, Creme Beige replaces Sand and there are two new choices, Coral Red and Saddle Brown, in addition to Gray and Black.

Upholstery leather appears on the seat facings, door inserts and door handle surrounds; other leather-trimmed items include the gear shift boot, handbrake grip and steering wheel.

Interior door handles, gearshift surround trim, steering wheel spokes, instrument dial and engine Start/Stop button surrounds, dash air-outlet adjusting tabs and the optional iDrive controller are in pearl-gray galvanic material.

Another trim material, called Titanium Light, appears in several accent locations on the dashboard, center console and doors.

An elegant ambiance is further created in the interior by special lighting and switches with a premium look and feel.

Ambiance Lighting, created in the interior by special lighting and switches, streaming down from under the ledge on the door and side panels, and running from the A pillar all the way to the rear passenger area, gives a particularly warm, indirect lighting effect.

Body Structure

The Bmw 3-Series Coupé structure uses high-strength steel in critical areas. The B-pillars have a tubular structure made of ultra-strong steel in a warm-molding process and is heat-treated while in the mold to improve quality. The bulkhead support is made of multi-phase steel, offering strength and stability even on thin-gauge panels.

In a head-on collision, dynamic deformation areas at the front keep impact energy away from the bulkhead and, accordingly, from the car’s footwells.

In the event of a side-impact collision, the specially designed floor assembly ensures a controlled transfer of forces acting on the car to the opposite side of the body.

The consequences of a collision from the rear are minimized by longitudinal carrier bars, a wide range of reinforcement elements, as well as the extra-long luggage compartment floor panel, rear panel and side walls.

(Source: Bmw)