Prices have been announced for the BMW 3-series hybrid, ahead of its launch next month. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will cost from £40,225 on-the-road, and will be available in SE, Modern, Luxury and M Sport specification.
It is powered by the same TwinPower 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine and 55bhp electric motor as the BMW ActiveHybrid 5, developing 340bhp and 332lb ft. Accelerating to 62mph in 5.3sec, it is 0.6sec faster than the 5-series, and its CO2 figure of 139g/km undercuts the larger car by 10g/km.
BMW claims it can travel up to 2.4 miles on electric power, and records 47.9mpg on the combined cycle. It attracts an 18 per cent benefit-in-kind rate.
July also sees the launch of the four-wheel drive BMW 3-series xDrive. The new chassis configuration will be offered in the 320i, priced from £27,000 in SE specification. A 7.4sec 0-62mph time is possible and with a manual gearbox, BMW cites 41.5mpg and 159g/km. The optional eight-speed automatic gearbox improves economy to the tune of 2mpg and 7g/km. BMW is expected to announce diesel variants over the coming months
Other changes to the 3-series range include the fitment of the eight-speed auto to the 330d and the introduction of M Sport specification. Standard features include 18-inch M-Star spoke alloy wheels, M Sport suspension, bodystyling and interior trim. M Sport grades are priced £3000 more than SE models.
The BMW 5-series GT is now offered in 520d guise, with the same 2.0-litre diesel fitted to the BMW 5-series saloon and Touring. BMW says it is capable of 53.3mpg, with emissions of 139g/km and attracting a 21 per cent BIK rate. All models in the GT range now feature start-stop as standard, reducing BIK by up to five per cent.
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the 3 series xDrive will be
the 3 series xDrive will be welcome after a series of bad winters, but it will very much depend on how much the 4wd blunts the CO2 figs on the diesel version.
BMW just trod on Audi's toes!
Great news! The days of Audi offering models without a challenge from their German competitors are over. Consumers will benefit from this.
According to the BMW website the 320i SE in 4-wheel drive will cost £27400. It's up against the Audi A4 2.0 quattro, which is admittedly a tad quicker, has the same claimed MPG, and costs £29175.
Time for Audi to start eating into those big fat profit margins that it enjoys by being a VW underneath the skin, and offering some big discounts to buyers.
BMW's next assault on Audi will be four wheel drive on 3 series diesels, and after that a 5-door hatchback variant of the 3 series in 2013.
I'd imagine the degree of
I'd imagine the degree of depletion of the Earth's resources in order to create that £40,000 of credit needed to purchase this car massively outweighs the benefit of the hybrid technology.
As for the car itself: 340bhp, 53.3mpg. Enough said.