2019 BMW 3 Series Gets More Horsepower, MagneRide-like Suspension

BMW’s brand new 330i arrives in March 2019 with a starting price of $40,250. The 330i xDrive sedan will start at $42,250.

BMW’s officially announced the seventh generation of its iconic sports sedan, the BMW 3 Series. In the past 40 years, no single model has embodied the concept of the “Ultimate Driving Machine” better than the BMW 3 Series Sedan. Modern design, agile handling, exceptional efficiency and innovative equipment features, all signature characteristics of a BMW, have been raised to a higher level through tireless engineering and testing. The new 2019 BMW 3 Series sedan represents not only the core of the BMW 3 Series range (of which more than 15 million units have been sold worldwide) but also the heart and passion of the BMW brand.

When the first BMW 3 Series arrived on U.S. shores in 1976 as a successor to the iconic BMW 2002, it built upon the sport sedan foundation pioneered by that model and launched a new name: the BMW 3 Series that would become BMW’s most successful model, a status it retains to this day. Over the course of six model generations, the BMW 3 Series has ranked as the world’s biggest-selling premium car, led the way for high-performance powertrain and chassis technology and earned a reputation as a pioneer of technological innovations in its segment.

The latest edition of the car sees BMW building on the sporting tradition of the 3 Series, whose exploits in race competition have earned it many accolades. The seventh generation of the sports sedan moves the game on once again in terms of driving dynamics, not to mention premium quality and innovation, in its segment.

BMW 330i: more power & torque

Boasting numerous detail upgrades, the new 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder powering the new 2019 BMW 330i unit delivers 255 horsepower between 5,000 and 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft from 1,550 to 4,400 rpm. The 7 hp increase in output and the extra 37 lb-ft of torque compared with the predecessor engine are the result of the focused optimization of the BMW TwinPower Turbo system – which is made up a twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Injection direct petrol injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing.

The High Precision Injection system ensures precise fuel metering and particularly clean combustion, its new fuel pump generating maximum pressure of 350 bar compared with the 200 bar of the previous version. The improved direct injection system enables optimal fuel flow through the combustion chambers with atomized fuel delivered by multi-hole injectors. Other characteristics of this engine include a lighter crankshaft, reduced internal friction, optimized heat management and a new digital engine management system. An impressive zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds belies the enhanced efficiency of the new BMW 330i Sedan.

The 2019 BMW 330i arrives in March 2019 with a starting price of $40,250 (plus $995 destination). The 330i xDrive sedan will start at $42,250 (plus $995 destination).

In addition to the four-cylinder 330i, the line-up will expand further to include a BMW M Performance version with extremely sporting characteristics and a BMW iPerformance model with the latest plug-in hybrid drive technology.

BMW M340i and M340i xDrive M Performance

Spring of 2019 will see the arrival of the BMW M340i and M340i xDrive Sedans. The new BMW M Performance model will showcase the full dynamic potential of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan. An updated six-cylinder inline gasoline engine, M Performance chassis tuning, optional xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive and the standard M Sport rear differential will deliver performance attributes that will impress any driver.

The new version of the straight-six engine developed for the BMW M340i xDrive Sedan will produce 382 hp and peak torque of 369 lb-ft. A zero to 60 mph time of 4.2 seconds (provisional figure) takes the BMW M Performance model into performance territory inhabited by high-caliber sports cars.

Eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission: Improvement and greater integration

The new 2019 BMW 330i and 330i xDrive Sedans are equipped with the eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission as standard. The latest upgrade of this sport automatic transmission sees a wider gear spread (from 7.8 to 8.2 and also increases internal efficiency and improves vibration suppression. There is a new control unit and further enhanced gearshift dynamics. In addition to the optimized hydraulic control system, the shorter gearing for the lower ratios boosts the acceleration capability of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan. The 8HP eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission delivers even shorter shift times and a Launch Control function for highly dynamic, traction optimized acceleration off the line than previous versions. Shift paddles on the steering wheel allow manual gear selection.

Intelligent connectivity enables the sport automatic transmission to adapt its shift strategy according to the route and driving situation. With the optional Navigation system, the eight-speed Sport Steptronic transmission uses data from this system and from the Active Cruise Control system’s radar sensor. This makes it possible for the transmission to avoid unnecessary gear changes when negotiating a series of fast corners and, when approaching a vehicle ahead, for example, to shift down early in order to use the engine braking to scrub off speed.

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