|
Model |
Price
OTR from |
Power
Hp |
Torque
Nm |
0-62mph Seconds |
Top
speed
Mph |
Combined Mpg |
CO2
Emissions g/km |
|
BMW 328i Saloon |
£29,060 |
245 |
350 |
5.9
(6.1) |
155* |
44.1
(44.8) |
149
(147) |
|
BMW 335i Saloon |
£35,525 |
306 |
400 |
5.5
(5.5) |
155* |
35.8
(39.2) |
186
(169) |
|
BMW 320d Saloon |
£28,080 |
184 |
380 |
7.5
(7.6) |
146
(143) |
61.4
(62.8) |
120
(118) |
BMW 320d
EfficientDynamics
Saloon |
£28,080 |
163 |
380 |
8.0
(8.1) |
143
(140) |
68.9
(68.9) |
109
(109) |
*Electronically limited.
BMW 3 Series Saloon buyers
are extremely diverse in their preferences and tastes, with
a growing demand for greater personalisation, and the new
model range has been configured to reflect that. It offers
more trim levels than ever before – six – and a wide range
of packages and individual options which customers can add
to the already significantly increased standard
specification of every model.
Common to all versions is a
new-found sense of style, higher interior quality standards
and much improved packaging. The new 3 Series Saloon is
simultaneously more sporty and more elegant than its
predecessor. Improved proportions, pronounced wheel arches,
headlamp units which blend into the double-kidney grille to
form a continuous band across the front of the car and air
inlets beneath the headlights visually stretch the width and
make the new 3 Series Saloon look low, wide and sporty. This
is echoed by the strong horizontal design language at the
rear and the forward-pressing nose, long bonnet, rising
swage lines and large wheels visible from the side. At the
same time, the coupé-like profile, distinctive double round
headlights, L-shaped rear light units with LED light bars
and the decorative trims chosen for the grille and around
the windows give an athletic and yet elegant
appearance.
Befitting the BMW 3 Series’
renowned driving dynamics, the interior control and
switchgear layout is totally driver-focused. The elegant and
dynamic new interior design language, with twisting and
merging surfaces arranged in a series of layers, all angle
towards the driver. The centre console itself is angled at
seven degrees towards the driver.
All engines in the new 3
Series Saloon feature BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. They
include a new four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol unit,
developing 245hp and 350Nm of torque, in the 328i. It
replaces the six-cylinder 3.0-litre engines in the previous
325i and 330i, with inherent advantages for weight and fuel
consumption, yet with a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds in
manual form, it is quicker than either. Efficiency is also
significantly improved and both manual and automatic
versions of the 328i have fuel economy of more than 44mpg
and CO2 emissions below 150g/km. The new unit
features High-Precision Direct Injection, BMW’s new
TwinScroll turbocharging, Double-VANOS variable camshaft
timing and VALVETRONIC variable valve opening technology.
| Model |
Power
Hp |
Torque
Nm |
0-62mph Seconds |
Top
Speed
Mph |
Combined Mpg |
CO2
Emissions g/km |
| BMW
328i Saloon Auto |
245 |
350 |
6.1 |
155* |
44.8 |
147 |
| Audi
A4 2.0 TFSI Saloon Auto (2012) |
211 |
350 |
6.9 |
149 |
47.1 |
140 |
|
Mercedes-Benz C250 CGI Saloon Auto |
204 |
310 |
7.2 |
149 |
42.2 |
156 |
*Electronically-limited.
All based on 17” alloy wheels.
The 328i is one of four engines that will be available at
launch, three of which are familiar from the outgoing model.
The other petrol engine on offer at launch is the 3.0-litre
six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo unit in the 335i. This flagship
powertrain represents the current pinnacle of new 3 Series
Saloon ownership.
| Model |
Power
Hp |
Torque
Nm |
0-62mph Seconds |
Top
Speed
Mph |
Combined Mpg |
CO2
Emissions g/km |
| BMW
335i Saloon Auto |
306 |
400 |
5.5 |
155* |
39.2 |
169 |
|
Mercedes Benz-C350 CGI Saloon Auto |
306 |
370 |
6.0 |
155* |
40.4 |
159 |
*Electronically-limited.
Both based on 17” alloy wheels.
Though the 3 Series range offers two class-leading petrol
engines it is the diesel powerplants that are by far the
most popular model derivatives.
| Model |
Power
Hp |
Torque
Nm |
0-62mph Seconds |
Top
Speed
Mph |
Combined Mpg |
CO2
Emissions g/km |
| BMW
320d Saloon |
184 |
380 |
7.5 |
146 |
61.4 |
120 |
| Audi
A4 2.0 TDI Saloon (2012) |
177 |
380 |
8.2 |
143 |
61.4 |
120 |
|
Mercedes-Benz C220 CDi Saloon |
170 |
400 |
8.4 |
144 |
64.2 |
123 |
All based on 17” alloy
wheels.
Compared to the BMW 320d
the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon features longer gear
ratios, reduced friction components and revised electronics
to generate an outstanding 68.9mpg fuel consumption and just
109g/km CO2. Previously only available as a
manual, the 320d EfficientDynamics is also now available
with the new eight-speed automatic transmission – whilst
retaining the same 109g/km emissions level. Compared to its
rivals the BMW is still the best all round proposition as
outlined below.
| Model |
Power
Hp |
Torque
Nm |
0-62mph Seconds |
Top
Speed
Mph |
Combined Mpg |
CO2
Emissions g/km |
| BMW
320d EfficientDynamics Saloon |
163 |
380 |
8.0 |
143 |
68.9 |
109 |
| Audi
A4 2.0TDIe Saloon (2012) |
136 |
320 |
9.3 |
134 |
65.7 |
112 |
|
Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI Saloon |
170 |
400 |
8.4 |
144 |
64.2 |
117 |
BMW and Mercedes-Benz based
on 16” alloy wheels. Audi based on 17” alloy wheels.
Further engines to
be offered
Less than a month after launch, three new engines will be
added. There will be 316d and 318d diesels, powered
respectively by 116hp and 143hp variants of the 2.0-litre
diesel engine, plus another version of the 2.0-litre
turbocharged petrol engine. This will slot into the new
320i, and will be tuned to deliver 184hp and 270Nm of
torque, with the same free-revving, supremely flexible
character of all other BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engines.
EfficientDynamics –
a class-leading proposition
Compact BMW saloons have always appealed to the emotions of
keen drivers because of their outstanding driving dynamics,
but with the advent of the company’s EfficientDynamics
technologies to reduce fuel consumption and CO2
emissions in the middle of the last decade, they also
present a compelling business case. That advantage is set to
increase with the introduction of the new BMW 3 Series
Saloon.
By March 2012, when
additional engines have been added to the four at launch,
BMW will have eight versions of the new 3 Series Saloon with
CO2 emissions at or below 120g/km while
competitors can muster only one each. This brings clear
benefits to owners in terms of Benefit-in-Kind company car
taxation and Vehicle Excise Duty, while the 320d
EfficientDynamics model, with CO2 emissions of
less than 110g/km, allows businesses which outright
purchase, to write off 100 per cent of the cost of the car
against tax in the first year.
The EfficientDynamics
technologies which gave the previous BMW 3 Series Saloon
such a competitive advantage remain very much in place, and
have been supplemented with new ones. Auto Stop-Start is
fitted to all versions, manual and automatic, along with
Brake Energy Regeneration, on-demand control of engine
ancillary components and tyres with less rolling resistance.
Weight has been reduced by
up to 50kg compared with the previous model, while the drag
coefficient (Cd) is down to as low as 0.26 thanks to
optimised aerodynamics. The new 3 Series Saloon features a
streamlined underside, covers which create a diffuser effect
at the rear and Aero Curtain air channels in the front apron
which reduce the turbulence created by the revolution of the
front wheels in their arches.
Transmission
An eight-speed automatic gearbox, giving a wider spread of
ratios than the former six-speed unit without taking up any
more space in the engine bay, is available as an alternative
to the standard six-speed manual. It is also now offered
with every engine to significantly improve efficiency. For
example, the new 318d automatic model now emits 22g/km less
than the previous 318d automatic model. Automatic versions
of the new 3 Series Saloon are also now as fuel-efficient,
or more so, than their manual equivalents.
Chassis
All versions of the new 3 Series Saloon feature Drive
Performance Control as standard - a switch which allows the
driver to swap between up to four driving modes, varying
from sporty to extremely economical. The four modes are ECO
PRO, Comfort, Sport, and Sport + (Sport + is included only
on Sport models or with selected optional equipment). In ECO
PRO, the throttle mapping changes so that a firmer push of
the accelerator pedal is needed to extract the power that is
delivered with a lighter touch in the other three modes,
thus encouraging a more economical driving style. ECO PRO
also alters the manual gearshift points advised by the
Optimum Shift Indicator,
modifies the gearshift strategy on models with automatic
transmission and even adjusts the power consumption of
features such as the climate control and heated mirrors and
seats.
The new BMW 3 Series Saloon
is fitted with electromechanical power steering which
consumes no energy when the car is being driven in a
straight line or in steady-state cornering. This has been
achieved with no loss of the steering accuracy or precise
feedback that is such an essential part of the BMW ‘ultimate
driving machine’ ethos. Servotronic speed-sensitive power
assistance is standard on the 328i and 335i derivatives and
optional on all others.
With its rear-wheel-drive
layout, near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight
distribution, agile chassis set-up and responsive engines,
the BMW 3 Series has always been the benchmark for driving
enjoyment among compact premium saloons. That position has
been strengthened in the new model.
All-independent suspension
is by aluminium torque struts, wishbones and swivel joints
at the front and an improved and refined version of the
proven five-link arrangement from the previous 3 Series
Saloon at the rear. BMW engineers have managed to improve
upon the already outstanding handling qualities of the
outgoing car so that it delivers even greater agility and
directional stability with noticeably improved comfort.
State-of-the-art electronic control systems ensure the new
car’s dynamics can be enjoyed with complete peace of mind.
Light-alloy wheels of at
least 17 inches in diameter and shod with Run-flat tyres
linked to a Tyre Puncture Warning System are now fitted to
every version apart from the 320d EfficientDynamics, which
has 16-inch aerodynamic alloys and non-Run-flat tyres. The
rolling resistance of the tyres has been reduced by 15 per
cent compared with those on the previous model, with no loss
of dynamic performance.
Optional Variable Sport
steering and Adaptive M Sport suspension with electronically
variable dampers will also be available – both interacting
seamlessly with the Drive Performance Control and adding the
‘Sport+’ mode to this switch.
The road ahead for
the new BMW 3 Series Saloon
BMW UK can confirm that towards the end of 2012 it will
introduce four-wheel-drive and hybrid powertrains to the 3
Series Saloon for the first time in the UK. BMW’s xDrive
all-wheel-drive system has been available on the 3 Series in
some markets previously, and has now been engineered for
right-hand-drive cars. It will be of particular benefit to
owners who live in areas prone to extremes of bad weather,
and will be available with selected petrol and diesel
engines.
The ActiveHybrid 3 will
arrive at roughly the same time, and will use the powertrain
recently announced for the ActiveHybrid 5. This pairs the
335i’s 306hp six-cylinder engine with an up to 40kW electric
motor in a particularly intelligent and efficient way.
