|
|
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact luxury car
manufactured by BMW since May 1975. It is the successor
to the 2002 coupe, retaining much of that car's
styling while adding a more powerful 2.0 L 110 hp
(82 kW) engine and other performance enhancements.
The 3 Series was for some time the smallest car
line manufactured by BMW, although that place was
in 2004 taken by the BMW 1 Series. The 3 series
is BMW's best selling automobile, accounting for
nearly 40% of all automobiles sold by the company
in 2005.
From its sporting origins in 1975, the
E21 generation, available in two and four-door forms(e30
on), as well as a later in-house full convertible
(e30 on) (replacing one developed by Baur of Germany),
became a more formal range that was synonymous with
the "yuppie" generation. Being an accessible
prestige-badge car, the 3 Series' reputation grew
at this time. By the early 21st century, the E46
3 Series, designed by American Chris Bangle, was
the best-selling car of its size in the world, as
commonplace in Asia and America as in Europe, while
maintaining its prestigious image.
|
|
|
