No M Performance diesel for 3 Series

BMW is unlikely to bring an M Performance Automobiles edition of the new 3 Series to Australia. There's simply no call for such a vehicle in our market, explains Piers Scott, the company's Head of Corporate Communications.

"I'm not sure that there is demand for a high-performance diesel of that level in the 3 Series," Scott told motoring.com.au during the local media drive day for the new (F30) 3 Series. "Internationally we have a 335d, which has a monstrous amount of torque, but it's not a car that there seems to be strong demand for, in Australia. People would opt for the 335i; they love the free-revving nature of that six-cylinder petrol."

Scott's comments don't discount the possibility Bavaria will drop the thumping tri-turbo six into the 3 Series for overseas markets, it just won't come here.

" I would say in the 5 Series and larger SAVs there is strong demand for those incredibly torquey diesels," he continued. "And that is not only on the basis of the power and fuel economy combination, but also the fact that with those larger 'lifestyle' vehicles down here, people are using them for more practical purposes like towing boats and things — in which case they actually need that torque."

And for those who want to hitch up sporty diesels to boats, caravans and trailers, the 3 Series package might conceivably be too small for safe towing.

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