2019 BMW 3 Series G20 Leaked – Hey, Where’s the Shifter? [News]

2019 G20 BMW 3 Series - leaked photos
2019 BMW 330i, leaked from BMW’s configurator site. [Photo: BimmerPost]

The configurator for the new G20-generation 2019 BMW 3 Series leaked before the car’s official reveal.

Well, here it is – and a day early no less. The 2019 BMW 3 Series – now in its “G20” generation – is out there for all to see. A BimmerPost forum member posted leaked photos that appear to be from the new car’s configurator. Two cars show up in the post: the revamped 330i with the M Sport package as well as the top-of-the-range M340i.

The 2019 BMW 3 Series seems to have ditched its rather anonymous styling. Here it’s more aggressive, mainly thanks to the new headlight and bumper design. Those headlights are available as LEDs or, if you spec them, BMW’s new laser headlights.

On the inside, the 2019 BMW 3 Series gets the a digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment display. That change is in line with BMW’s other recent revamps and reveals, like the new X5, 8 Series and Z4. It also appears there are new switches along the center stack, particularly for climate controls and a new steering wheel.

However, there’s one weird omission in the M340i. While the normal 330i has a traditional automatic, the M340i…doesn’t. We looked around for an actual shifter or buttons on the center stack, but it’s a mystery for the time being. Commenters on BimmerPost state it could be a rendering error, and that may well be the case.

Weirdly, this photo of the BMW M40i seems to be missing a shifter to go with its sport automatic transmission…

The G20 BMW 3 Series will make its official reveal tomorrow at the Paris Motor Show. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!