This is one of the first official shots of the forthcoming BMW M340i xDrive, published ahead of its world premiere at the LA Motor Show later this month.
The souped-up saloon will be the first performance offshoot of the latest 3 Series and serves as a tasty appetiser for the full-fat M3, which will be revealed in 2019.
Due here in July 2019 with prices set to start from around £49,000, the M340i xDrive uses a cranked-up version of BMW’s three-litre turbocharged straight-six engine, which pushes power output up by 47bhp to 369bhp and hikes torque by 50Nm to 500Nm.
BMW’s engineers have achieved this extra zing by fitting the unit with redeveloped turbochargers and higher pressure fuel injectors than before.
All of this means that the M340i xDrive can clear a 0-62mph sprint in 4.4 seconds.
Despite such impressive performance, running the snazzy saloon won’t wipe out your bank balance, returning 37.6mpg at 172g/km CO2 on the old NEDC test cycle. WLTP figures will follow closer to launch.
While the old M340i only drove the rear wheels, the addition of BMW’s xDrive system means it now has all-wheel-drive, with power going through an eight-speed gearbox.
Ride has been lowered by 10mm thanks to the M Sport suspension, while track is slightly wider too.
Visually, the car’s front apron, side sills and rear end have been redesigned to optimise aerodynamics and the cooling air supply.
The M340i xDrive is further denoted with a cerium grey metallic finish on the exterior mirror caps, air intake struts, the front surfaces of the BMW kidney grille, tailpipe trims and model lettering. The iconic BMW kidney grille also gets a mesh design.
Inside, there’s sports seats with M-specific upholstery in a sensatec/alcantara trim, an
anthracite BMW Individual roof liner, M leather-clad steering wheel with shift paddles and interior trim strips in aluminium tetragon provide for an intensive driving pleasure oriented ambience.
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