In the highly competitive premium market, there’s probably a marked increase in the intensity of scuffle between the smaller offerings. BMW knows that it holds the title for best handling compact executive saloon, but its current F30 generation 3 Series has had to undergo some enhancements to fend off the impressive advances of the competition in this regard, such as the Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia.
Add to that, the slightly better road manners of the new Audi A4 and similar sporty influence that AMG is slowly exerting across the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW needs their next 3er to be the unquestionable champion of the segment’s drive and handling (and/or performance) category should it want to build enough distance during the generational step.
This why, as detailed by Autocar, the Munich automaker is keen to ingrain as much sporting DNA into its new 3 Series - due to launch in 2019 - as possible, even those not necessarily powered by a brag-worthy engine. More interestingly, BMW plans to offer an M performance model as one of the first variants available from launch, starting the narrative that its the go-to option for enthusiasts.
This M340i will use BMW’s familiar B58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-6 petrol, tuned to develop around 268kW and, together with a raft of enhancements to its suspension and steering tune, is aimed to slot beneath the fire breathing next-generation M3, which isn’t due to arrive until 2020 at least.
In traditional fashion, drive will be sent to the rear wheels but will also soon receive an all-wheel drive sibling. However, this will be branded M340d xDrive, using a 3.0-litre turbodiesel to achieve around 238kW and, presuming BMW uses a similar solution to the quad-turbo M550d xDrive, produce over 600Nm of torque at peak.
Speaking of the G30 5 Series, a car that the next 3 Series will be tailored to very closely resemble on a technical level, this approach to expanding the sub-M space is where that strategy was used most recently. If an M5 not be to a buyer’s liking but still craves a sporty drive and big power, they could pick from the M550i or M550d, both still very potent machines indeed.
Additionally, this roadmap puts BMW in a much more fortified position to combat other penultimate performance models from its nearest rivals such as the Audi S4 and Mercedes-AMG C 43. Autocar also confirms that this performance 3 Series hierarchy will be mirrored by the 4 Series coupe, leading to an M440i and M440d xDrive, undeniably underscoring the company’s resolute stance on diesel engines in spite of tighter emissions regulations.
“The diesel is a critical component in our efforts to reach the 2020 climate targets,” said BMW chairman Harald Krüger. “It is very important in improving the overall efficiency of our future models.”
The 7th-generation 3 Series will be built upon BMW’s new Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform - promising greater structural rigidity, increased modularity, and lighter weight - and will be largely retain the same spread of engines, variants, and trim levels offered in the F30. And despite BMW purported to be investing a great deal in giving the (codename) G20 a leg up in exterior design and interior panache, it will ultimately be a more evolutionary step over the model rather than anything radical.
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