MOTORS
THE NEW BMW 3 SERIES Price as tested: £38,000 Top speed: 146 MPH 0-62 MPH: 7.5 seconds Economy: Combined 61.4 MPG Engine: 2.0 litre turbo diesel Performance: 184 BHP Combined CO2: 120 G/KM
Dragging myself away from the outrageous display of magni?cent tech in the 320D, the car itself is stunning, and entirely worthy to continue the legacy of the 3 Series, which have been massively popular since the late seventies/early eighties. A fabulous sleek and curvaceous Estoril Blue exterior and tinted rear windows, set off perfectly with 19" star spoke M Alloy wheels and a shiny chrome exhaust gives the 320D an instant and appropriately sporty feel, not to mention dropdead gorgeous good looks. Inside, the black Dakota leather, wonderfully comfortable sports seats, M Sport instrument cluster and multifunction leather steering wheel provide more beauty as well as ergonomic perfection. From the outset it is blatantly obvious that this is nothing other than a driver's car. Putting the 320D into motion, this suspicion is con?rmed beyond a shadow of a doubt. Performance and handling are everything that have made the 3-Series the legend that it is today, and with the M Sports body styling, suspension and braking system, you will ?nd yourself in a great-handling car; sporty enough to be fun and grin-worthy when you're out there alone on the country roads, whilst being large and powerful enough to make motorway driving an equal, if more sedate pleasure. Truly the best of both worlds. And this duplicity is apparent in the performance stats too. The 320D will wind from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, has a not-too-shabby top speed
of 146mph and yet boasts a tree-hugging-tastic combined-cycle ?gure of 61.4mpg. Economy and fun. Something you can't help but be impressed by. The BMW 3-Series is traditionally one of, if not the most popular sports saloons in the UK, and with the melding of such a magni?cent road machine with the kind of bleeding-edge comms/navigation technology found in the new 320D, I have no doubt that this trend will more than continue. Once again BMW have proven that they know their customers, as well as their cars and have dreamt up an exciting new incarnation to an industry favourite. In fact as you read this, Norman Tuttle is probably dusting off his headset and preparing his resumé for an interview at BMW HQ, whilst a dust-covered KITT is probably muttering bitterly to himself in a lockup garage somewhere...
Broad Oak BMW The Boulevard Orbital Business Park Ashford TN24 0GA 01233 500555 www.broadoakashfordbmw.co.uk
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