BMW will bring in a new 3-litre inline-6 this year and it will turn up in its 3-Series lineup, its roadster line and its new sport-ute model.
Which means that this summer we'll see the BMW 330i sedan (including a new all-wheel-drive model), the 330Ci coupe, the 330Ci convertible, the Z3 3.0Ci and the X5 3.0Ci.
This engine will replace the 2.8-litre inline-6 BMW's been using for several years.The key charm of this new engine is its extra power levels, which would be 225 horsepower at 5900 rpm and 214 pound-feet of torque at 3500 rpm, most of which is on tap across the entire rev range.
In the 330Ci coupe, this means a 0 to 100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds and acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h (a good passing range) in fourth gear in 6.9 seconds.
According to Tobias Nickel of BMW Canada, by offering this kind of performance, the 3-Series is "entering territory which, until just a few years ago, was reserved for high-performance cars such as the BMW M3. The 330i appeals to the passionate sports driver among customers of the 3 Series who expects truly outstanding performance."
From the outside, all 3-litre 3 Series vehicles will be characterised by 17-inch aluminium wheels with dual-spoke design. Inside, Nickel says, "chrome surrounds on the instrument dials mark the distinction of the 3.0-litre derivative."