» Get the best price on a new BMW 3 Series After achieving best-selling luxury car status with over 5600 3 Series sales in 2007, BMW has bolted out of the blocks for 2008 by announcing major improvements to the 3 Series hot on the heels of the range's mid-2007 freshen-up.
The headline news is the release of the premium twin-turbo 335i high performance model as a Touring wagon completing a full-house choice of the 335i as a sedan, coupe or convertible. The new wagon, which is equipped as a six-speed auto only, starts at $108,600 or just over $4000 more than the equivalent sedan, and $300 less than the Coupe.
A full launch report of the new 335i Touring will follow next week.
Equally exciting to entry 3 Series buyers is the addition of BMW's latest version of its third-generation common-rail 2.0-litre diesel engine to the 320d. The upgraded engine which boosts power from 115 to 125kW and torque from 330Nm to 340Nm is shared with the recently-released 520d.
In the lighter 3 Series, the new diesel adds an extra performance dimension as well as exceptional economy when the torque figure is now unmatched by any other 3 Series model this side of the high performance 335i.
Priced from $56,700, or $3100 above its four-cylinder petrol equivalent, the new 320d also delivers a 10 per cent improvement in fuel consumption with a combined figure of 6L/100km yet it's capable of a 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds. A full launch report of the revised model will follow next week.
The other big news is the useful improvements to the 320i, the biggest-selling model in the 3 Series range. These include the addition of two new Touring wagon models in 320i and 320i Executive specifications.
Along with the 335i Touring, BMW intends to double 3 Series Touring sales from a tiny 166 in 2007 to well over 300 in 2008.
All 320i models gain an extra 5kW which pushes the power output of the efficient entry level four-cylinder petrol engine to 115kW at 6400rpm. Torque remains unchanged at 200Nm at 3600rpm, which places the 320i's 2.0-litre petrol engine at the top end for a non-turbo engine of this size.
BMW is also equally proud of the 320i's relatively light 1360kg kerb mass for a vehicle of this size which plays a role in keeping the combined fuel consumption figure down to just 7.9L/100km. Top speed (where legal) rises to 220km/h: again, at the top end for a four-door sedan that straddles the small and medium car segments in size.
The new 320i Touring, which BMW claims is quicker than its immediate entry level competitors, covers the 0-100km/h split in just 9.3 seconds with a combined fuel consumption figure of 9L/100km. A 70kg increase in weight accounts for the slight losses in performance and economy compared to the sedan.
The latest 320i Sedan starts at $51,000. The 320i Touring in the equivalent specification is priced from $54,200 with extra features such as roof rails and the Luggage Compartment Package partly accounting for the price premium.
» Get the best price on a new BMW 3 Series
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