Super TestCar reviews - BMW - 3 Series - sedan rangeBMW models3 Series 318i Executive sedan 318i sedan 318ti Sport 3-dr hatch 320d sedan 320i Gran Turismo 320i sedan 323i Touring 330Ci convertible 330Ci coupe 330d sedan 330e 330i sedan 335i Convertible 335i coupe 335i Touring 340i Compact 5-dr hatch range Convertible range Coupe and Convertible Coupe and Convertible diesels Coupe range GT M3 and M4 M3 Competition M3 coupe M3 CS M3 sedan range sedan range Touring Research BMW OverviewBMW hopes its sixth-gen 3 Series sports sedan will regain segment leadership15 Feb 2012 BMW isn’t about to take the Mercedes-Benz C-class’ ongoing upper-medium segment domination lying down, as the all-new, sixth-generation 3 Series patently proves. Strides in refinement, comfort, dynamics, efficiency, value and personalisation choices mean that the perennial German sports sedan means business. In fact, after an all-too-brief drive, this may well be the best car of its type in the world. Model release date: 1 February 2012 to 1 September 2015 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelBRANDISHING all-new ‘flame surfacing’ styling that defined BMWs in the 2000s, the fifth-generation 3 Series sedan grew in every department compared to its popular E46 predecessor. It also introduced the company’s controversial iDrive system to the long-lived range. Six-speed gearboxes prevailed, even in the base 320i (110kW/200Nm). There was the 160kW/250Nm 2.5-litre in-line six-cylinder 325i (joined later by a detuned 130kW/230Nm 323i version), as well as the 190kW/300Nm 330i – until a 225kW/400Nm 335i twin-turbo six-cylinder range-topper arrived. For the first time, a diesel 3 Series was released in 2006 (115kW/330Nm 320d). Along with a raft of changes, that was uprated to 125kW/340Nm during 2008, as was the 320i (to 115kW). A powerful 180kW/520Nm 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo-diesel was added in 2009 (330d), but the performance flagship was the 309kW/400Nm 4.0-litre V8-powered M3 – the first in Australian in four-door sedan guise. There was also the E91 Touring wagon (from 2006) and E92/E93 Coupe/Convertible variants. Minor trim and visual changes were introduced during 2010 and 2011. |
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