It might not seem like it, but the BMW 3 series has already been on the streets for almost five years now —  maybe that’s because we’re just now starting to see the new M3 on en masse. Either way, it’s tenure puts it in a position for a facelift, and Autocar seems to have all the info about the upcoming redesign. It’ll be released sometime in 2011 and the theme of the updated model will be improved efficiency via smaller turbocharged motors and improved aerodynamics. Production of diesel models is also expected to be ramped up. Jump for details on the changes. [Source: Autocar.co.uk]

Turbocharged 1.5 liter three cylinder gasoline and diesel engines will be available in addition to the traditional six cylinder choices. The three cylinder diesel will have a power rating around  150 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque, while the gasoline three cylinder will have 150 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the decreased power output and displacement comes with a hefty price cut and a better weight distribuption. Non performance engine cars can also look forward to having an engine stop/start feature as well.

Also, there is the possibility of electric assist motors to help spin up the turbos faster in the 2016 models, even though the turbocharged E90 3 Series cars seem to have almost no turbo lag already. For now, BMW is still trying to figure out where to store the electric battery packs and other electronics.

Most models will likely use a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission like the unit found on the 7 Series, which might mitigate some of the downsides of having a smaller engine. Dual clutch gearboxes will be offered on performance oriented models.

The second part of the update is aerodynamics, which centers on their ‘Air Curtain’ system, which uses narrow, upright intakes in the bumper to route air into the car, dumping out inside the wheel well. Since the air exhausts in front of the wheel, it is supposed to form a curtain over the wheel, which has been observed to reduce the drag coefficient on the BMW 5-Series by 0.01.

The most useful feature might have nothing to do with drivetrains or aerodynay mics at all: the new 3 Series will be fully connected to the internet. Besides being able to check your Facebook page anywhere you go, the possibilities are endless: traffic, weather, doing work on the go, and others are opened up.