2012 BMW 3 Series set to keep BMW in the lead

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By Brett Davis | October 24th, 2011

BMW is expecting the launch of the new 2012 BMW 3 Series to help keep the company in the lead in terms of sale in the US, well into 2012. BMW is currently ahead of both of the main rivals, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota’s Lexus brand.

BMW was in the lead as of the end of September, so far this year making 177,679 sales in the country, with Mercedes-Benz closely behind in second place with 170,058 sales. Lexus, on the other hand, has suffered from the tsunami devastation, and has so far sold 135,647 units – a big change from the company’s first place position it has held for the past 11 years.

BMW is predicting the new 3 Series will help keep the momentum going for the company into the start of 2012. In a recent Automotive News report, Ludwig Willisch, of BMW North American, was optimistic about overall sales next year, he said,

“We have a window to stay No. 1 in the first quarter. Our model lineup is broad. We have a lot of opportunities to get there.”

Despite the sales lead, the current BMW 3 Series has been around for a while now and consumers aren’t necessarily opting for the Bavarian sedan. Mercedes-Benz also offers the fresher Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But that’s where the new 3 Series is expected to really bolster the lead. BMW’s current best-selling models in the US include the BMW 5 Series and BMW X3 SUV.

The new 2012 BMW 3 Series is set to go on sale in the US in February, while Australian consumers will receive it some time during the second quarter of 2012.

What do you think? Will the new 3 Series be a very popular choice next year?

Martin V.

The more I see of this new 3 series, the more I like it.
David

The Germans keep leapfrogging each other so I don’t see why this new 3 wouldn’t be the best choice in the segment, given that it will be the newest of the lot.
YOUR MAJESTY

THE NEW 3 IS VERY HANDSOME COMPARED TO THE SHIT UGLY NEW 1 SERIES!
theillestlife

i must say it does look good.

however, i do notice that the front is more angular and steeper than the rear (if that makes sense). in this case though, it has worked.

however, being a mercedes man, im going to have to opt for the c63 sedan over the m3 sedan next year. i hope the m3 sedan doesnt change that.
Jacob

Lexus has no history, just like Genesis or Infinit.

And its naming is crap: IS 250?!

Smoothcall

At least it actually has a 2.5l engine…
james cortez

You’re crap. Go to the states and Canada where they sell millions of cars and you’ll see lots of lexus there particularly california and in some eatern states

Homer

Selling lots of cars in America doesn’t mean they’re any good. Witness the garbage the US motor industry puts out year after year. Lexus makes high quality Toyotas, if that kind of car pulls your chain, then well and good. Just because some people prefer the driver involvement that most BMW’s provide over the fit, finish and build quality of a Lexus doesn’t make one car better that the other. They’re different cars that suit different buyer motives.

camaro

Hey mate, have ever drove a lexus?

Homer

No, but I have driven several.

UniversityOfGoogle

Ye and BMW and Merc have a history of making war machines for the Nazi’s to use to slaughter the rest of the free world.

That is so much preferable to the peaceful rise of Lexus.

amiright?

A-Train

allllrighttttty then…

duckula

yeah and Im sure BMW made robots for the decepticons too… and lexus is a japanese company am I correct I dont think that you could say that them ( or any country) is guilt free when it comes to the horrors of war…

Thrillhouse

It must have taken you a lot of training to get that stupid.

UniversityOfGoogle

No Decepticons are Merc and Ford.

I’m only upset Nazi Germany failed, better luck next time!

Homer

Idiot.

Golfschwein

You completely missed Pearl Harbour, Darwin and Singapore, yes? Lots of Mitsubishi Zero warplanes, Nakajima B5N (Kate) bombers whose wingspan shape inspired the chrome bars in Subarus’ grilles, lots of bombs, bang-bang…still don’t know?

Back to University for you…

UniversityOfGoogle

Lexus = Mitsubishi

ROFLMAO

Crummydore

Looks kinda angry… got that ‘I’m gunna bite your ass’ demeanor.

I like it!

PhantomHamster

Yeah I like that Cranky look… awesome when I tailgate nanna’s in their Corollas.. haha, but seriously I think it looks cool

Good News Guy

Well I think Mercedes has scored well with its new C class (in all variants) and it will be hard for BMW to keep its lead even with the new model. I think the C is well ahead in Aus now anyway.

PhantomHamster

yeah Good old C Class with MB Tex AKA Vinyl seats!

Good News Guy

Only the very cheapest one has this. Go to the brilliant C250CDI and you have full leather.

Dan

The cheapest Merc C class has vinyl seats??? Wow! So did the cheapest Kingswood! Hahahaha

YoLex

Only the front is new. The rest, particularly the boot indistinguishable from E90.
topdog

They would also sell thousands more here in oz if the prices were the same as the states
BimmerDerrick

No more Bangle-butt, no more silly flame surface designs, by-George I think BMW got it right this time!

While Lexus is in the same price range as BMW, I don’t think it is in the same league.

Most people confuse an appliance with an automobile: a Lexus is a very luxurious and high-quality transportation appliance whereas a BMW is a finely-honed automobile.

Dan

Lexus is cheaper than BMW, once you option up the BMW to the level of standard equipment that’s on the Lexus.

Gotta love all the Lexus haters out there. Makes for a fun facepalm read. 99% of you haven’t actually driven either a Lexus nor a beemer.

BimmerDerrick

Dan, I own a BMW 325i since 2004 when I bought it new. I also test drove my cousin’s Lexus IS250 for comparison.

I don’t hate Lexus–they make very high quality cars. But somehow, they just couldn’t make a driver’s car. Maybe they don’t want to!

On the other hand, can BMW achieve as high quality as Lexus? I think not.

So again, it depends on what you like.
Jacob

You are right…most of us havent driven a Lexus because it was only invented in 1989.

BMW has been around since 1918.

Bangel

Yes they have nailed the style on the 3 series , looks very good , love the longer bonnet look , very Z4 , TOXUS is not even in the hunt against this , may knock the C class of its sales perch .

laurie

I think the ZF 8 speed auto will mate to the diesel engine for a refine package JMHO
Tommy

Looks like a grumpy old man with a busy face

UniversityOfGoogle

The driver or the car?

oh wait, both

Matt J

It’s a stunning piece of work. But does that bonnet look really long in that photo
izo

Why when ever “Lexus” is mentioned it sparks so much conflict??

Lexus are very nice cars.. In Europe the more rich people drive Lexus, because unlike Mercedes, BMW & AUdi, they don’t sell taxis and do not have cars the equivalence of Cherry..

All their range is more expensive then the European offerings and hence why they sell so little in EUrope..

rapha

I don’t like Lexus coz they’re supporters are d***heads.
Dan

Agreed with izo. These people fall into two categories, ones who have never driven one (nor a german car for that matter, but jump on the uneducated bandwagon), or ones who have bought a german car and can’t stand how much superior and better equipped the cheaper lexus is over their german car. Haters gonna hate…

sperche

Funny how BMW just barely manages to beat Lexus with their 6yr old cars.. (Good cars)

Next year Lexus will claim the U.S title, with new models and assuming production gets back to 100% and no more tsunamis..

AUstralians hate Lexus, yet i see many on the roads in sydney.. DOn’t know about other cities

Ryan

cus we got all the asians driving the lexusses in sydney

beliu

C-class most popular then Lexus IS250/350.. I just don’t see that many 3 series on the roads in Sydney.. C-class is the worst out of them 3..

jack

i’ll never buy any of these unless they price it to what the american’s pay for it…

Phil

So I guess you don’t own any kind of car? Or anything at all for that matter?

EVERYTHING is cheaper in the USA. Even Australian made goods, shipped over and sold in the USA are cheaper to buy.

osi

USA has a massive populations.. so economies of scale is achieved their i guess

osi

*there*

ElecEng

Phil is right.
Even for an Australian book written by and Australian author and printed in Australia, it’s cheaper to buy from the internet off a US website.

rwual

If you think about it Lexus are almost perfect cars.. Once you go Lexus you won’t go back.. My mother purchased a 2005 used RX350 and it’s so comfortable, luxurious and refined..

Seriously we tried an X5 and it was absolutely rubbish

Phil

Seriously why didn’t you try the Toyota Klugar Grande?

You’d have found it drove identically as it uses the same chassis, engine, drivetrain etc but it costs $20,000 less and comes with 7 seats.

Your mum probably could’ve got a brand new Klugar for the price of the 5 year old and out of warranty RX350.
Matty B

Let’s role play…

Lexus driver hops into a BMW -
“I don’t like the ride, it’s too hard the steering to heavy”
BMW Driver hops into a BMW -
“It corners so well, holds flat through the turns and gives great feedback through the steering”

Lexus driver hops into a Lexus -
“The steering is so light and the ride is so soft and comfortable”
BMW driver hops into the Lexus -
“It’s too soft through the corners, steering feedback is horrible”

It all depends on what you like, you’re going to find more people on a motoring website are going to prefer vehicles with driving dynamics over ones that don’t. Hence unless you’re talking about an LFA, every other Vehicle they make does not compete with BMW let alone most of the other Europeans.

AndyGF

Agree. And its worse than that too…

Drive-by-wire killed the Japanese performance car, made every single one feel like a VERY old Mercedes Benz in terms of throttle response.

Direct Injection elevated the german manufactures, along with long time experience in individual throttle bodies (esp in BMW’s M case) to gain the benefits of direct injection without the sacrificing throttle response. In fact they have improved on it if anything…

The japanese car manufacturers have barely touched on direct injection so the drive-by-wire trait will at least for a while leave a taste in the mouth not unlike eating wasabi flavored chips/crisps. (IE: you keep wondering for some time after eating them, did I eat that?)

And then they wonder why we all laugh when they start saying things like “epitome of luxury”.

M

it’s all about the halo effect…M division, helping the STD models along…and should the rumours about the M3 having a triple turbo be true, then how Lexus responds with the next IS will make for fascinating reading.
hadEnough

Stop talking about bloody Lexus, this article is about BMW.

Golfschwein

Done deal. This is the car that’ll get more people into a 3 series than any other in its history. It’s aspirational and beautiful.

M

As good as the new 3 looks – it will not increase sales – why??? Due to the fact that when the earlier models were selling larger qtys than the current (just replaced) shape – there were far fewer choices…now we have 1series, X1 – A3, Q3, Q5 etc etc etc…
MarkS

I drove a 2012 320d today. I drove it fairly aggresively for brief periods and found the car too soft and squishy through the bends. I probabaly discover these things more than 98% of drivers so most of you need not be concerned. I drove a 2010 320d 2 years back and as I recall it was stiffer. In my opinion the new model does not handle especially well. I think the 250D Merc is better.