New Touring revives 323i badge

BMW's new 3 Series wagon variant will be dubbed the 323i. The new Touring revives a popular BMW moniker, last used in 2000 for the first release of the E46 3 Series.

Unlike common BMW convention, the model name does not directly indicate engine capacity. The new Touring will be powered not by a 2.3-litre engine, but rather a 2.5-litre six.

With an official output of just 130kW at 5800rpm, the engine is claimed to deliver "a broad, muscular spread of torque." Incongrously, the quoted maximum torque of the 323i is 230Nm from 3500-5000rpm -- the 170kW 2.5-litre engine which features in the 325i sedan boasts 250Nm at 2750rpm!

The 323i Touring will be offered in both six-speed manual and auto verisons and is said to deliver up to 1385 litres of available luggage space thanks to "almost-flat" folding rear seats.

Like its 5 Series counterpart, the 3 Touring features a two-piece rear tailgate. Split-fold rear seats are standard and the use of runflat tyres frees up space under the rear load area for a waterproof storage module.

According to BMW, the Touring was developed in tandem with the sedan and features saloon-like on-road dynamics and refinement.

Standard equipment includes Dakota leather upholstery, multi-function wheel, 16-inch alloys, roof rails, Burled Walnut interior trim, rear Park Distance Control, fog lights, sensor wipers and automatic headlights, automatic air conditioning, cruise control with brake function, Bluetooth prep and in-dash CD player.

The interior can be further personalised via a choice of wood or metallic trim options at no additional cost, says BMW.

Claimed fuel consumption for the 323 is 8.6lt/100km for manual transmission and 9.2lt/100km for the automatic version.

BMW Group Australia expects 323i Touring sales of 140 units for 2006. This is around 2 per cent of 3 Series Down Under. The E90-based 323i replaces the outgoing E46-based 320i Touring that went on sale in July 2002.

On sale from May, the 323i will be priced from $68,900. Steptronic automatic transmission will set you back an additional $2600.