Rev-tastic 3 Series announced

Newswheel staff :: 25 November 2005 :: Filed under Saloon, BMW, BMW 3 Series, Europe & UK

[Click on an image to view]

Tons of BMW tech but not much more power

BMW has launched a special homologation variant of the 3 Series Saloon. The 320si packs a hand-built version of the BMW’s Hams Hall, Coventry-built four cylinder engine. The new model is being produced to comply with the FIA’s World Touring Car homologation regs for 2006, so production will be limited to 2,600 worldwide with 500 coming to the UK.

Technically, the uprated 2.0-litre engine sounds rather special. The modifications begin with larger inlet and exhaust valves for improved breathing. Next up are slightly widened cylinder bores (up 1mm to 85mm) and reduced stroke (down 2mm to 88mm), no doubt helping the engine to achieve higher revs. Additionally, the standard engine’s iron cylinder liners have been replaced with aluminium alloy items. The compression ratio, meanwhile, increases to 11:1 from 10.5:1. And finally, the trick cylinder head is cast at BMW’s Landshut, Germany facility alongside the company’s F1 engine’s and receives a carbon fibre cover, shaving off a few kilos and lowering the engine’s centre of gravity.

It’s an impressive list of tech tweaks. And no doubt it will help the touring car engines produce championship-winning poke (Andy Prilaulx bagged the 2005 championship in a 3 Series). But for the road car, the results are a little underwhelming. The standard Hams Hall 2-litre four produces 150bhp and 148lb/ft, while this exotic new homologation engine knocks out 173bhp at 7,300 rpm and 147lb/ft at 4,250rpm.

Chassis and styling-wise, the 320si gets the full 3 Series M Sport treatment including springs and dampers as well as more aggressive front and rear bumpers. However, those juicy 18-inch touring car-style alloys are unique to the 320si.

Unsurprisingly the performance numbers are less than dramatic: it hits 62mph from rest in 8.1 seconds and will creep up to 140mph given enough space. Of course, what the new engine lacks in pure poke it might make up in terms of character and willingness to rev. But given BMW’s decision to stick huge 255-section rear boots on such a modestly-powered car (kiss goodbye to throttle-steering) and the standard M Sport chassis settings, we doubt the driving experience will be all that spectacular.

Production starts in March 2006 with UK deliveries in April. And the cost of entry? £24, 975.