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
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.
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”
“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
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
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.
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.
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 :) )
Fröhlich be like… Okay, I will leave.
How about durabilty and reliability?