Carsales Staff•16 Nov 2012
NEWS
No LCT for BMW's 3 Series Touring
But sub-7.0L/100km wagons straddle the luxury car tax threshold on priceBMW has announced pricing for the new 3 Series Touring range ahead of the wagons' local launch in February next year. And while buyers won't be paying the federal government any tax for buying 'luxury cars', pricing for the wagons continues to hover around the Luxury Car Tax threshold of $59,133.
Comprising two variants, the 318d and 320i, the 3 Series Touring is exclusively powered by four-cylinder engines rated below the 7.0L/100km fuel consumption ceiling beyond which the Luxury Car Tax applies. The diesel-engined 318d Touring avoids the LCT on two scores; its combined-cycle fuel consumption is just 4.2L/100km on the one hand, and it's priced just below the threshold, at $58,900 on the other. Even though the 320i Touring is priced above the LCT threshold – at $62,600 – the petrol variant returns a fuel consumption figure of 6.2L/100km, thus side-stepping the additional 33 per cent tax on the retail price.
BMW has revised its model structure for the F30 generation of 3 Series Touring. Where previously the diesel-engined 320d Touring was the more expensive variant in the E91 generation, the 318d is now the entry-level model and the 320i Touring now steps up a rung.
BMW offers the new Touring variants with a host of option packs, just as the company does with the 3 Series sedans. Luxury, Modern and Sport lines can be specified with the 318d variant for $3678 or for the 320i at $3152. In addition, the petrol variant is also offered with an M Sport Package priced at $6844.
As motoring.com.au has reported in the past, the new wagons built on the F30 platform are lighter and larger, while embracing TwinPower forced-induction technology, auto-stop idling and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
“The 3 Series was the model for which the claim 'the ultimate driving machine' was created and this hasn’t been diluted with the new 3 Series Touring. It takes the best of the 3 Series driving dynamics and blends this with the elegance and versatility of a sports wagon,” said Phil Horton, BMW Australia's MD, as quoted in a press release issued today.
The 318d Touring generates 105kW and 320Nm for an acceleration time to 100km/h of 9.2 seconds. Complementing the 4.7L/100km fuel consumption is the CO2 emissions figure of 123g/km. Also driving to the rear wheels through the eight-speed automatic transmission is the direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the 320i. Acceleration time is 7.5 seconds to 100km/h, offset by the 6.2L/100km fuel consumption and 145g/km figure for CO2 emissions.
Like the sedans launched here earlier in the year, the Touring wagons gain rear-seat legroom, but additionally stow up to 495 litres in the luggage compartment with the rear seat raised. With the rear seats folded flat the 3 Series Touring models can accommodate 1500 litres of goods, and users can chose to use some or all of that available capacity thanks to the triple-split (40/20/40) folding rear seat. The tailgate is a two-piece affair that is electrically operable.
Specifications and equipment are otherwise aligned with the features offered in the sedans. 318d comes standard with dual-zone climate control, cruise control, electric windows/mirrors, auto-on/off headlights, rain-sensing wipers, reverse-parking sensors, Bluetooth with MP3-compatible audio featuring Aux and USB ports.
In addition, the 320i Touring offers electric seat adjustment with position memory, reversing camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, forward parking sensors and sports leather steering wheel.
Safety features comprise six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking, Brake Assistant, Cornering Brake Control and traction control.
“The substantial increase in standard equipment and the latest technology evident in the new 3 Series Touring offers a huge improvement in value, both compared with its predecessor and its direct rivals in the market,” said Mr Horton.
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Written byCarsales Staff
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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