BMW expands and enhances its UK model line-up

From July BMW will introduce a package of new model and engine revisions across the range. The changes to the 3 Series Saloon and the 5 and 6 Series ranges significantly broaden BMW’s market coverage in the UK, extending its lead in fuel-saving, emissions-reducing measures while adding to customer choice and personalisation options.


The 2013 BMW 3 Series Saloon

With the arrival of hybrid, four-wheel-drive and M Sport variants of the 3 Series Saloon, BMW offers its most comprehensive line-up ever of the model that is the heart of the brand. The 320i xDrive, ActiveHybrid 3 and M Sport versions start production in July along with the 330d, followed in November by the 316i and 320i EfficientDynamics.       

The ActiveHybrid 3 is unique in the compact premium saloon class. Powered by the BMW TwinPower Turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine in tandem with a 40kW (55hp) electric motor, it develops a combined 340hp and 450Nm of torque to deliver exceptional performance, reaching 62mph from zero in just 5.3 seconds.  At speeds of up to 37mph it can travel up to 2.4 miles solely on electric power supplied by its high-performance lithium-ion battery. With a combined fuel consumption of 47.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 139g/km it attracts only an 18 per cent benefit-in-kind company car taxation rate.  Just as practical as it economical, the ActiveHybrid 3 retains 390-litres of useable boot space. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is priced from £40,225 OTR and is available in SE, Modern, Luxury and M Sport specification.


xDrive brings the all-year-round stability and safety of four-wheel-drive to the 3 Series. Available initially on the 320i and powered by the 184hp TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, it costs from £27,400 OTR for a BMW 320i SE. With the six-speed manual gearbox the 320i xDrive accelerates from zero to 62mph in 7.4 seconds and has fuel consumption and CO2 figures of 41.5mpg and 159g/km.  The optional eight-speed automatic transmission improves economy and emissions to 43.5mpg and 152g/km while adding only a tenth of a second to the zero to 62mph time.

The BMW eight-speed Sport automatic transmission is fitted as standard to the new 330d, which is powered by the 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder diesel engine developing 258hp and 560Nm of torque. This ensures that not only is it rapid, with a zero to 62mph time of 5.6 seconds, but also supremely efficient with a combined fuel economy of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of just 129g/km. The new BMW 330d Saloon is priced from £33,280 OTR for a BMW 330d SE.

The eagerly anticipated M Sport specification is now available across all variants of the BMW 3 Series Saloon for £3,000 over the cost of the SE model. The M Sport trim builds on the striking styling of the new 3 Series and its agile and dynamic character through a combination of unique interior and exterior design changes and chassis upgrades.


Standard features include 18-inch M Star-spoke alloy wheels, M Sport suspension and M aerodynamic body styling with High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim. Dakota leather upholstery is standard alongside a unique M Sport multi-function leather steering wheel, Anthracite headlining, M Sport seats and M designation door sill finishers. A Sport+ function is also added to the Drive Performance Control switch. Aluminium Hexagon interior trim with an Estoril Blue finisher is standard, but a high-gloss Black finisher is available as a no-cost option, as is a Brushed Aluminium interior trim.

The expansion of the 3 Series range will gather more momentum in November with the arrival of the 316i Saloon and 320i EfficientDynamics Saloon. The 316i is powered by a 1.6-litre TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine developing 136hp* and 220Nm* of torque (and will be available from £22,850 OTR). With a combined economy of 47.9mpg*, CO2 emissions of 137g/km* and a BIK rate of 18 per cent it will appeal to tax-conscious business drivers, yet still maintain the dynamic BMW responses, reaching zero to 62mph in 8.9 seconds*.

The same is true of the 320i EfficientDynamics which, with fuel economy of 53.3mpg* and CO2 emissions down to 124g/km*, attracts only a 15 per cent BIK rate. The 320i EfficientDynamics is powered by a 170hp* version of the 1.6-litre TwinPower Turbo engine punching out 250Nm* of torque. It will be available as a stand-alone model, based on the SE trim level, priced at £25,730 OTR.
*Data to be confirmed closer to launch.

Fives a fix

The introduction of an extremely tax-efficient version of the 5 Series Gran Turismo, technical enhancements to the rest of the Gran Turismo range and a new ActiveHybrid 5 M Sport are the major changes to the 5 Series range for potential owners.

 
BMW Gran Turismo ownership now starts with the new 520d Gran Turismo, powered by the same 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo diesel engine fitted to the 5 Series Saloon and Touring. It develops 184hp and 380Nm of torque and, thanks to a full complement of EfficientDynamics measures, including Auto Start-Stop and ECO PRO mode, the 520d Gran Turismo is capable of 53.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 139g/km.  This puts it in VED band E ensuring a BIK rate of 21 per cent.

Standard equipment includes Dakota leather upholstery, an eight-speed automatic transmission, the BMW Business Advanced Navigation system and enhanced Bluetooth telephone functionality with telematics. A panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, Park Distance Control front and rear and automatic tailgate operation are further specification highlights. The 520d Gran Turismo is available in SE or M Sport from £36,605 OTR.

At the same time the 520d engine arrives, all other versions of the 5 Series Gran Turismo gain Auto Start-Stop and ECO PRO which brings down their BIK rating by up to 5 per cent, while the 530d, 535d and 550i exhibit significant gains in power and torque for improved performance. The 530d now develops 258hp and 560Nm – increases of 13hp and 20Nm – yet fuel consumption improves by 5.2mpg to 48.7mpg and CO2 emissions are down by 20g/km to 153g/km.


The 535d gains 13hp and 30Nm to take it up to 313hp and 630Nm, but at the same time there is a 5.7mpg combined economy improvement, now 47.9mpg, and CO2 emissions fall by 21g/km to 154g/km. The 550i develops 449hp and 650Nm– an extra 42hp and 50Nm – but CO2 emissions are down by 49g/km to 214g/km and fuel consumption is 5.5mpg better at 30.7mpg.

The power and torque figures of the 535i Gran Turismo are unchanged, but the addition of the new EfficientDynamics measures bring about a 17g/km reduction in CO2 emissions to 192g/km while improving fuel economy by 2.7mpg to 34.4mpg. There are modest price rises of £375 for the 535i, £495 for the six-cylinder diesel models and £870 for the 550i.

The ActiveHybrid 5 is now available in M Sport specification, a model that is specified on more than half of all 5 Series ordered in the UK. The ActiveHybrid 5 M Sport features the same styling and equipment enhancements as other M Sport versions of the 5 Series Saloon range, with the exception of M Sport suspension and M door sill finishers.  The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 M Sport is priced at £50,190 OTR.

All Touring versions now have automatic tailgate operation as standard for greater convenience for a price increase of £250, while all 5 Series variants gain Voice Control at no additional cost.


The 2013 BMW 6 Series Coupé, Convertible and Gran Coupé

Production of the BMW 650i Gran Coupé will begin in July and at the same time its uprated 4.4-litre V8 TwinPower Turbo engine – delivering improvements in power, torque, performance and efficiency – will replace the existing version in the 6 Series Coupé and Convertible.

The new 650i engine develops 449hp and 650Nm of torque – gains of 42hp and 50Nm compared to the previous model. It also features EfficientDynamics measures not previously available with the V8 engine, including Auto Start-Stop and ECO PRO mode. As a result, all 650i variants now accelerate from zero to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds. The fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures of the Coupé and Gran Coupé are 31.7mpg and 206g/km, while for the Convertible they are 30.7mpg and 214g/km. These represent improvements of 5.1mpg and 40g/km in the Coupé and 4.3mpg and 35g/km in the Convertible.

The 650i Gran Coupé is priced at £70,650 OTR as an SE and £75,150 OTR in M Sport guise. There is a rise of £820 for the 650i Coupé and Convertible, while all other 6 Series Coupé and Convertible models rise by just £70.

Labels: BMW 3 Series Saloon, BMW 5 Series, BMW 6 Series, BMW 6 Series Coupé, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé