You’ve read about the global reveal here, and now it is available in Malaysia – the seventh-gen BMW 3 Series. Here are the most important points: the 330i M Sport is the single variant made available by BMW Malaysia at this point of time, and priced at RM328,800.
I know right; “so no plug-in hybrid?” Certainly that will eventually come owing to the direction so clearly defined by the Munich headquarters, but 258bhp and 400Nm of torque (the latter between 1,550rpm to 4,400rpm) is more than enough to keep us entertained for a while. After all, this TwinPower Turbo 2-litre in the new 3 Series is the most powerful engine of its kind ever in a BMW. It’s also claimed to drink 6.4 litres per 100km of petrol. The car will go to the century from standstill in 5.8 seconds and given enough room reach a top speed of 250kph. Gearbox is an 8-speed auto as in most other BMWs, only this one – just like the engine – has been tinkered with to get better efficiency and emissions.
If the new car looks larger than before that’s because it is - 76mm longer (4,709mm), 16mm wider (1,827mm) and just 6mm taller (1,435mm) than its predecessor, and wheelbase has grown by 41mm (2,851mm). I’m just guessing here but this increase would make the cabin more spacious. The increase in size contributes to a larger grille and, at least in my opinion, the overall design is still very well proportioned. Despite this, the kerb weight has been reduced by 25kg (now to 1,545kg) while construction rigidity has gone up.
The M Sport suspension will highlight BMW’s first-ever lift-related dampers that exemplify an innovative damping system. It continuously functions in relation to the changing spring travel, neutralising the vibrations that occur when compensating for going over bumps and making dynamic cornering. The 330i M Sport comes with 18-inch light alloy wheels.
The new 3 Series is also a car you can talk to. And instead of just ‘Hey, BMW’ you can even change its ‘name’ to anything else. The all-new BMW 3 Series also arrives with the Parking Assistant and when activated, the Park Assist can park the vehicle in spaces parallel or perpendicular to the road. Plus, the new Reversing Assist provides an incredible form of support when operating in narrow spaces. The intuitive system remembers the last 50 metres of the drive to the parking space and will use that knowledge to assist the driver in exiting the spot by taking over the wheel.
The typical key fob is not even the only way to unlock the car as it comes with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. So smartphones running on Android can be used to lock and unlock the car, a feature which BMW calls the BMW Digital Key. Yes, only with Android phones so iPhone users finally know how it feels to be left out like others have with CarPlay. Of course, until BMW make it work with iOS too; in fact, right now the feature only works with selected Samsung Android phones.
Complementing the extensive line of innovations is the latest generation of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional. It combines the customisable and situation-linked displays on a fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch Control Display. Intuitive operation can be chosen from the Control Display’s touch control, the iDrive Controller, the steering wheel buttons and voice control.
All these features are made available thanks to the new BMW Operating System 7.0. From optimising the control and display system with the advanced BMW Live Cockpit Professional to running a customisable smart system like the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, this Operating System shows that BMW stands unrivalled as the most advanced sport sedan ever created.
The All-New BMW 3 Series will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide from today.
The BMW 330i M Sport comes with the five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme by BMW, the BMW 2-year/24-month tyre warranty programme (for run-flats), BMW roadside assistance and accident hotline, the BMW Group loyalty + mobile app, and BMW Service Online.
