BMW Australia has confirmed the new 320i, 330e plug-in hybrid and the M340i xDrive will be available locally from September.
Priced from $64,900 plus-on-roads, the 320i becomes the new entry-point to the 3 Series range. It’s powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 135kW and 300Nm.
An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. BMW claims the 320i can sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds - a whole 0.1 second faster than its predecessor.
The standard equipment list of the 320i mirrors that of the 320d meaning adaptive LED headlights with auto high-beam, LED fog-lights, the M Sport package, M Sport suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels are all included as standard.
BMW’s Driving Assistant package is also included which brings autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane change warning, rear cross-traffic warning and speed sign recognition.
On the inside, all 3 Series variants get the new BMW OS7.0 which incorporates Live Cockpit Professional and Intelligent Personal Assistant. The system includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. A head-up display and Apple CarPlay are also included as standard.
The 330e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is priced from $75,900 plus on-roads. The powertrain consists of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor incorporated into the eight-speed automatic transmission.
The engine is rated to produce 135kW while the electric motor generates a continuous output of 50kW with a peak output of 83kW. Combined, the system delivers 185kW of power and 420Nm of torque.
A pure electric range of up to 60 kilometres is now possible when the 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack is fully charged, which is 50 per cent more electric range than that of the predecessor model.
Performance wise, the new 330e can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 230km/h. In EV mode, the top speed has been raised by 20km/h to 140km/h.
The 330e shares a standard specification list with the 330i which adds M Sport brakes, adaptive M suspension, 19-inch alloys, a surround view camera system with Remote 3D View, Vernasca leather trim and comfort access.
Driving Assistant Professional is also standard which includes steering and lane control assist, automatic speed limit assistant and front cross-traffic alert.
Priced from $99,900 plus on-roads, the M340i xDrive will be the flagship of the range until the new M3 arrives. Power comes from a newly developed 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six-cylinder petrol unit developing 275kW of power and 500Nm of torque - a 45kW and 50Nm increase over the previous 340i.
Power is sent to a rear-biased all-wheel drive system through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It features short ratios for the lower gears to deliver improved acceleration which is also supported by a launch control option. BMW claims the M340i xDrive can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds.
The M340i xDrive gets adaptive M suspension, an M Sport differential and M Sport brake system as standard.
Other equipment highlights include Vernasca leather trim, faux leather covering on the dashboard, ambient lighting, automatic tailgate, front seat heating, lumbar support, Anthracite roof liner, laser headlights, 16-speaker harmon/kardon sound system and 19-inch alloy wheels.
On the outside, the M340i is distinguished by a Cerium Grey accents, a mesh design kidney grille and a model-specific body kit.
The 320i, 330e PHEV and M340i xDrive are available to order now with deliveries commencing in September.
2019 BMW 3 Series pricing (excluding on-road costs):
320i - $64,900
320d - $67,900
330i - $70,900
330e - $75,900
M340i xDrive - $99,900
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