New BMW 3-Series’ Notched Headlights Were Inspired By The E46

To say the new BMW 3-Series stirred a bit of controversy with its design would be an understatement. Fortunately, we now have a solid explanation for one of the vehicle’s most intriguing design elements.

During the recent launch of the latest-generation 3-Series in southern Portugal, BMW told members of the world’s media that the new car’s headlights were inspired by those of the E46-generation 3-Series.

Even the quickest of glances at the front fascia of the new 3-Series reveals headlights that appear to have a sharp slice cut out of them. According to BMW, this design is meant to mimic the curve found in the E46’s headlights, Jalopnik notes.

With the exception of this little cut-out, however, the new BMW 3-Series shares almost no resemblance to its E46 predecessor.

As has become the norm for sports sedan’s nowadays, the new 3-Series has a much sharper and aggressive design than previous iterations, complete with angular lines, muscular shapes, and pointed corners. By comparison, the E46 3-Series, particularly its front fascia, was an orgy of soft, smooth, and flowing lines.

Beyond its design, the new 3-Series stands out from its predecessors on a number of other fronts. Most importantly, it is based on the new CLAR platform that promises to transform how the sedan drives.