Cars & Bikes – 3 |

Forget the golf and fiesta, this is the car you really want to know about. It’s been the best seller in the premium class for three decades so in many way’s it’s big story of the month. But what you’re looking at here is a mid life refresh rather than an all new car version 5.1 rather than MK6 so may be the actual story should be about the harm all this popularity may be doing to BMW’s status.
There’s Efficient Dynamics technology across the range five petrol, five diesel, so every 3-series now leads its class for economy and emissions six models sneak below 140g/km. Only manual four cylinders get the start/stop system, but every car gets brake energy regeneration, tyres with reduced rolling resistance, and on demand operation for air-con and power steering pumps. Spoilsport BMW’s saving the new seven speed dual clutch transmission for coupes and convertibles, so the mechanical headline for saloons and Tourings is the 330d’s new engine.