TIME89

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What you are seeing here is the refreshed 2016 BMW 3-Series. You would be correct to think that is is pretty much the same as the 2015 3-Series, and aside from some minor differences you would be right. But wait... now you can have “sport” badges, more power, and a numerical model designation that continues to defy logic.

To make a long story short, the six-cylinder 335i is now the 340i. The four-cylinder 328i is now the 330i. Get it? Of course you don’t.

The 320i, the only designation that actually makes sense and otherwise known as the “lease special” here in the US, retains its name. BMW increased the horsepower by exactly one horse for a total of 181 HP, but torque is up to 214 lb-ft.

The 328i also gains some ponies, now up to 249 HP, but torque remains the same at 258 lb-ft. Those extra nine horses also means the 328i will be now called the 330i. It remains powered by a 2.0-liter four.

To continue the numbers ending in zero theme, the 335i is renamed the 340i, and also gets a power bump to 326 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque. It’s still a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six, but an all-new one, named B58. It’s more powerful and more efficient than the outgoing six. BMW estimates the 340i with the 8-speed automatic should do 0-60 in 5.1 seconds.

There are some diesel motors as well, starting with the 116 HP 316d all the way up to the 335d with 309 HP. We probably won’t get either one of those, as BMW will just stick with the 180 HP, four-cylinder 328d for the American market. A six speed manual will be available in addition to the ZF 8-speed automatic.

While we won’t get a variety of oil burners, BMW will offer the first plug-in hybrid 3-Series ever called the 330e (“e” for electric, get it?). It will crank out 249 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque. BMW claims the hybrid will get up to 112 mpg on the U.S. cycle. Other updates include revised LEDs, a new navigation system called “Professional,” LTE mobile technology, and an automatic parallel parking assist. BMW has not added a feature that will automatically avoid illegally parking in handicapped spots. Gadgets aside, the 3 series has also added a “Track Handling” package that consists of: Variable Sport Steering, Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Brakes and larger wheels.

However, in an actual bit of news, the 3-series will be now available with a 134 HP turbocharged three-cylinder motor currently found in the new Mini Cooper. Imagine that, a 3 with a 3 banger! I wonder if BMW will also offer a three-on-the-tree as a special order?

There’s no word as to whether that car, the entry level 318i, will make it to the U.S. Probably not. I think it is safe to say that most Americans would not be interested in a BMW sport sedan that hits 60 in about 9 seconds.

The 2016 3 series should be hitting dealer lots sometime in the Summer. So for those of you that have a 2013-2015 3 series, don’t worry, our car will still look like the new one. And your friends will still have no idea what the numbers on the back mean.

TIME89

Original Post




The BMW 3 Series is the founder of the modern sports sedan segment and has been fêted as an icon of this vehicle class for 40 years. Over what is now six model generations, the BMW 3 Series has set the standard for dynamic excellence, efficiency and design, forging an emotionally rich connection between a sporting driving experience and unbeatable everyday practicality. Around one in every four BMWs sold is a BMW 3 Series Sedan or BMW 3 Series Touring, which makes this model series the most successful in the BMW brand’s line-up. Sharper design, even more advanced technology and cutting-edge engines ensure the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and new BMW 3 Series Touring are a more attractive proposition than ever before. The new BMW 3 Series model range will be available with an extensive spread of engines from launch. Four petrol units and seven diesels are available, developing from 85 kW/116 hp to 240 kW/326 hp (combined fuel consumption: 7.9–3.8 l/100 km [35.8 – 74.3 mpg imp]; combined CO2 emissions: 185–99 g/km). They can be linked up with a six-speed manual gearbox and an eight-speed Steptronic transmission (standard on the BMW 330d, BMW 335d and BMW 340i Touring). The new BMW 3 Series is available with classical rear-wheel drive or BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive, depending on the model.

Great exterior presence, sophisticated and high-quality interior.
The design of the new BMW 3 Series stands out with even greater precision and various detail improvements. At the front end, new aprons with revised air intakes accentuate the feeling of width, while the sensor for the optional Active Cruise Control (ACC) is harmoniously integrated into the central air intake. The sculptural rear apron design, including a Line-specific trim element, and standard LED rear lights likewise emphasise the car’s width and thus its sporting appearance. An innovative lighting concept, featuring newly designed headlights and striking LED daytime driving lights, underlines the car’s sporty and powerful visual appeal. Full-LED headlights can now be specified as an option. The interior, meanwhile, makes an even classier impression with new materials and additional chrome highlights for the controls, air vents and central control panel. The newly crafted centre console with a sliding cover for the cupholders enables better use of the storage surfaces forward of the gearshift lever and takes the outstanding ergonomics of the BMW 3 Series to an even higher level. A wide range of personalisation options as far as upholstery and interior trim elements are concerned, as well as new wheels, exterior colours and equipment options, round off the specification choices for the new BMW 3 Series.

Setting the benchmark – even sportier, even more efficient.
All the three-, four- and six-cylinder petrol engines for the BMW 3 Series model range and the four-cylinder diesel units in the BMW 316d, BMW 318d and BMW 320d are now sourced from the newly developed, modular BMW EfficientDynamics engine family. Features including revised turbochargers help give the new four-cylinder diesel engines even sharper responses, while the three-cylinder petrol engine is a new addition to both the BMW 3 Series model range and the segment as a whole. Making its BMW 3 Series debut is the four-cylinder petrol engine in the BMW 320i Sedan/BMW 320i Touring (combined fuel consumption: 5.9–5.3/6.3–5.5 l/100 km [47.9–53.3/44.8–51.4 mpg imp]; combined CO2 emissions: 138–124/147–129 g/km)*. Celebrating their world premiere, meanwhile, are the four-cylinder unit in the BMW 330i Sedan/BMW 330i Touring (combined fuel consumption: 6.5–5.5/6.7–5.8 l/100 km [43.5–51.4/42.2–48.7 mpg imp]; combined CO2 emissions: 151–129/157–135 g/km)* as well as the six-cylinder petrol unit in the BMW 340i Sedan/ BMW 340i Touring (combined fuel consumption: 7.7–6.5/7.0–6.8 l/100 km [36.7–43.5/40.4–41.5 mpg imp]; combined CO2 emissions: 179–152/164–158 g/km)*. Despite their superior power, further improvements have also been made to the efficiency of the engines; fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by as much as 11 per cent. The new 320d EfficientDynamics Edition Sedan (combined fuel consumption: 4.3–3.8 l/100 km [65.7-74.3 mpg imp]; combined CO2 emissions: 113–99 g/km)* develops 120 kW/163 hp, yet emits just 99 g/km of CO2 when the eight-speed Steptronic transmission and standard tyres are specified. Indeed, the new transmissions also contribute to the increased efficiency of all variants.
On cars specified with the six-speed manual gearbox, the engagement speed control function automatically blips the throttle on downshifts, for example. The eight-speed Steptronic transmission allows multiple sequential downshifts, which has a positive effect on smoothness and acoustics. The coasting function, meanwhile, increases efficiency by another notch. The further developed dampers, stiffer suspension and even more precise steering of the new BMW 3 Series ensure a clear elevation of the new BMW 3 Series’ dynamic potential, combined with the same impressive ride quality as that of its predecessor.

New Navigation system Professional and LTE mobile technology.
BMW plays a leading role in the link-up of driver, vehicle and outside world. Its BMW ConnectedDrive range of products and services offers a unique selection of web-based services and innovative driver assistance systems designed to enhance comfort and improve safety. For example, the full-colour BMW Head-Up Display in the new BMW 3 Series enables all relevant information to be displayed directly in the driver’s field of vision, leaving the motorist to concentrate fully on the road ahead. The Navigation system Professional impresses in city centres, in particular, with quicker start-up, significantly faster route calculation and even more realistic 3D graphics. The navigation maps are automatically updated free of charge for a period of three years. In the owner’s home region, the embedded SIM card allows these updates to take place automatically over the air via the mobile phone network. The new BMW 3 Series is the first model (depending on the equipment specified) in the premium mid-size sports segment to support the fastest current mobile technology standard (LTE). The Parking Assistant now enables automatic parallel parking as well, while Auto PDC also automatically activates the front parking sensors when manoeuvring.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures, specific CO2 emission values and the electric power consumption of new passenger cars is included in the following guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2 emissions and den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new passenger cars), which can be obtained from all dealerships, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at DAT: Guideline for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption. LeitfadenCO2 (GuidelineCO2) (PDF ‒ 2.7 MB)