BMW has announced “comprehensively updated” BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo for Australia, complete with a refreshed aesthetic, updated powertrains, and more kit than ever before.
The 3 Series Gran Turismo is now receiving its first major update since its 2013 introduction, and BMW says this Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) will arrive in Australia in the final quarter of this year.
The new GT will be offered in two variants; the base model 320d available from $70,400 and the all-new turbo-petrol 330i GT, priced from $77,900 (plus on-roads).
The 320d is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder which pushes out 140kW/400Nm, transferred through an eight-speed transmission, resulting in a claimed 0-100km/h run of 7.7 seconds. The powertrain is efficient, consuming 4.5L/100km on the average cycle and releasing 118g/km of CO2.
Equipment included as standard on the 320d includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlamps, adaptive M suspension package, head-up display, rear-view camera, sensatec upholstery, digital radio and a host of safety equipment like surround, top and side-view monitoring, lane-change warning, and BMW’s driving assistant package.
The new turbo-petrol engine in question is the 2.0-litre unit lifted from other ’30i’ models that produces 185kW and 350Nm. This is a 5kW increase over its ’28i’ predecessor. BMW says that despite the brisk 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds, the 330i GT sips just 6.2L/100km on average, and releases 141g/km in CO2, representing a 0.3L/100km and 11g/km improvement in efficiency over the outgoing 328i GT.
Standard equipment on the 330i version over the included equipment on the 320d includes 19-inch alloys, Dakota leather, comfort access and hands-free boot opening, ‘Professional’ navigation system, electric lumbar support, a nine-speaker sound system and a panoramic sunroof.
As per usual, there’s an extensive range of optional extra packages for the base model 320d, like the $2870 Innovation package, with adds adaptive cruise control, stop/go, parking assistance and the 330i’s superior navigation system and nine-speaker audio system.
For the 330i, there’s the $2270 Comfort Package adds a heated steering wheel, lumbar support, heated seats front and rear, while the $3500 Innovation package includes active cruise control, stop/go, parking assistance and a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon surround-sound system.
2016 BMW 320d Gran Turismo LCI – $70,400
2016 BMW 330i Gran Turismo LCI – $77,900
