BMW has revealed its all-new 3-series hybrid, which will be launched next month, will cost from £40,225. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will be available in SE, Modern, Luxury and M Sport specs.
Powered by the same TwinPower 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine and 55bhp electric motor already established in the BMW ActiveHybrid 5, the unit develops 340bhp and 332lb/ft.
The unit is also faster and cleaner in the 3-series, accelerating to 62mph in 5.3sec —0.6sec faster than the 5-series — and 10g/km CO2 cleaner, at 139g/km.
Capable of 47.9mpg on the combined cycle, it can also — according to BMW — travel up to 2.4 miles on electric power. The ActiveHybrid 3 also attracts an 18% benefit-in-kind rate.
The introduction of the hybrid 3-series coincides with the launch of the four-wheel drive BMW 3-series xDrive. Offered in the 320i, the new chassis configuration is priced from £27,000 in SE specification.
Fitted with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the car is capable of covering the 0-62mph sprint in 7.4sec, and returns 41.5mpg and 159g/km. Opt for the eight-speed auto ‘box, and economy improves by 2mpg and 7g/km. Diesel versions are expected to follow in the next few months.
The raft of changes and improvements across the BMW 3 Series includes the 330d getting an eight-speed auto, plus an M Sport spec model. Priced £3000 more than SE, it gets M Sport suspension, bodystyling and interior trim, plus 18in M-Star spoke alloys as standard.
There’s now also a 520d version of the 5-series GT. Utilising the same 2.0-litre diesel slotted into the 5-series saloon and Touring, it returns 53.3mpg and 139g/km.
About Jim McGill
Jim McGill is an award-winning motoring and motorsport journalist with more than 25 years' industry experience. He contributes to a number of newspapers and magazines, including The Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Scotsman, Sunday Herald and AA Magazine.
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