2012 BMW 3 Series Launched

At first glance the new 3 Series indeed adorns a prettier face featuring flatter headlights, with LED accents above the twin corona rings stretched all the way to the large kidney grille. It’s a complete shift in terms of design language from Bangle’s vision for the outgoing model. Moreover, unlike its current competition the new BMW 3 Series that has now been officially launched in the country is not merely a facelift but a completely new car and changes, upgrades and improvements are all across the board. 

For starters, the BMW 328i petrol model comes fitted with a 2.0-litre engine that boasts of TwinPower Turbo. It develops 245PS @ 5,000rpm and a peak torque of 350Nm from as low down as 1,250rpm all the way up to 4,800rpm. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission the BMW 328i shoots from standstill to a hundred km/h in just 5.9 seconds, and offers a healthy fuel economy which tip toes around the company claimed 6.4 litres per 100 kilometers. 

On the diesel front, the TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre diesel unit has been further refined in order to offer an even more efficient outcome. It develops 184PS @ 4,000rpm and a very impressive 380Nm of torque between 1,750rpm and 2,750rpm. Also mated to an 8-speed gearbox it can complete a 0-100km/h sprint in a scant 7.5 seconds. With an average fuel consumption of just 4.5 litres for every 100 kilometers driven it’s no surprise that this diesel has such a strong fan following.

Unlike the earlier 3 Series the treatment to the dashboard on the new model is clean and uncluttered., and doesn’t have a double dome on the dash as the second dome which housed the multimedia screen has been replaced by a flat screen fitted on the hood. 

The BMW iDrive system on the new 3 Series offers a plethora of functions including infotainment, driver assistance and safety. BMW Navigation Professional (integrated Global Positioning System - GPS), with an 8.8-inch high-resolution display and rear-view camera debut in the all-new BMW 320d Luxury Plus and all-new BMW 328i Sport Line. The full-color Head-Up Display in the all-new BMW 328i Sport Line projects driving information directly into the driver’s field of vision without diverting driver’s attention from the road ahead.

All models of the all-new BMW 3 Series also feature the new ECO PRO mode as standard, enabling efficient driving and reduced fuel consumption. Changing the car's character is at the touch of a button, and the driver can choose between different driving modes like ECO PRO, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ (only in the new BMW 328i Sport Line) depending on the driving conditions. 

With the increase in length (93mm) and wheelbase (50mm) boot space has now gone up by 20 litres compared to its predecessor and should you still need more space for your luggage, the rear seats offer you a 40:20:40 flexible folding solution. The rear seating has benefited from the increase in length as well and now passengers get an additional 15mm of knee room.

Safety features on the new baby beemer are top notch with airbags all around, not to mention the standard list of abbreviations that can be found on the BMW, including DSC (dynamic stability control), DTC (dynamic traction control), ABS (anti-lock braking system),DBC (dynamic brake control),and CBC (corner braking control).

All in all, the new BMW 3 Series besides being a complete visual treat is a car that has majorly leaped forward in terms of technology, performance and even on road efficiency. Based on its competitive pricing across variants and our recent drive experience in Spain (2012 BMW 3 Series : First Drive)  we believe that this new baby beemer has immense potential and could very well steal the thunder from its newer generation of luxury class competitors.

BMW 3-series variant-wise pricing

320d (Diesel)

Base Rs 28.9 lakh

Sportline Rs 31.5 lakh

Luxury Line Rs 31.5 lakh

Luxury Plus Rs 36.9 lakh 

328i (Petrol)

Sportline Rs 37.9 lakh