India-bound BMW 3 Series facelift - Rendering

Adaptive LED lights to be seen on the 3-er for the first time.

BMW's popular entry-level sedan, the 3 Series, will get its mid-life makeover (what BMW calls LCI - Life Cycle Impulse) next year, with several publications reporting a possible launch at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in early March.

As this rendering will tell you, the 2016 BMW 3 Series will get subtle styling tweaks such as a new front bumper with larger airdams, a mildly redesigned kidney grille, new alloy wheel patterns, and most importantly the inclusion of adaptive LED headlights. Currently, the top-end variants of the 3-er feature Bi-Xenons, while its rival the new C Class, gets LED lighting in addition to Mercedes's adaptive ILS (Intelligent Lighting System).

Changes inside could come as revised trims for the dashboard and seats, and software updates for the iDrive controller.

The 3 Series sedan in India is offered with 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines in the 320d and 328i specifications. At most, these engines could feature a mild re-tune that will see them returning more kilometers to the liter.

Internationally though, rumors are that the base 3-er would get the 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine seen on the new Mini and 2 Series range.

Also read: 2016 BMW X1's front end revealed in new spyshot

The 3 Series's segment is one that will see significant action next year globally. Audi's popular A4 is headed for a full model change, while the new kid on the block, the Jaguar XE, will start sales early next year. The new C Class too will have its first full year of sale next year, and it should be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Competitors: Audi A4, Mercedes C Class, Jaguar XE
Expected Price: INR 30-40 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: Mid-2015 in Europe

[Rendering from Theophiluschin]