BMW July News Roundup

August 1, 2008 – 10:04 am by Ivan Chong

Pages: 1 2

Here are some of the recent happenings in BMW:

BMW 118d and 123d Convertible go on sale
Seven-speed double clutch transmission slots into 3 Series
X3 production reaches half a million mark
New BMW X3 models announced
30 years of BMW M cars
BMW ConnectedDrive enhanced with Google Search service
BMW wins more awards
BMW 118d sets new unofficial 24 hour record
Price adjustments announced for BMW range

BMW 118d and 123d Convertible go on sale
Two of BMW’s most popular diesel engines are now available in the 1 Series Convertible. BMW’s most economical four-cylinder diesel engine ever and the award-winning twin–turbocharged unit are a timely introduction for new car buyers seeking open-air motoring but are worried about rising fuel costs.

BMW 118d and 123d Convertible

The 118d Convertible is powered by a 1,995cc single turbocharged engine producing 143hp and 300Nm of torque. This results in a zero to 62mph time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 129mph. Most impressive though is the 118d Convertible’s ability to record a combined consumption figure of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 129g/km. This means the vehicle, courtesy of BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies, is the most economical and least polluting convertible car in its class.

BMW 118d Convertible

For those customers demanding greater performance the 123d Convertible comes with a 1,995cc twin-turbocharged engine producing 204hp and 400Nm of torque. This propels the 123d Convertible from zero to 62mph in 7.5 seconds before going on to a top speed of 143mph. It too comes with all the facets of EfficientDynamics and thus records a combined consumption figure of 52.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 144g/km – again the lowest compared to any competitor product.

BMW 123d Convertible

Both models come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. The BMW 118d Convertible is priced from £23,660 OTR, while the BMW 123d Convertible starts at £28,105 OTR.

Seven-speed double clutch transmission slots into 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible are now available with a seven-speed double clutch transmission for enhanced performance and economy. The new gearbox, which applies similar technology to that used in an M3 equipped with M DCT, is now offered on the 335i Coupé and Convertible models. It improves performance and economy by splitting the gearbox into the two assemblies, each with their own clutch. This way as the revs build or decrease in the current gear another one is already selected. A near seamless transition in gears and power is thus achieved benefitting both acceleration and consumption. The DCT gearbox is offered as a £1,640 option.

BMW 3 Series Convertible

BMW 3 Series Coupé

News of the new gearbox comes as the new six-cylinder 2,993cc diesel engine announced for the new 3 Series Saloon and Touring models is offered in the Coupé range. Now the BMW 330d Coupé is powered by a 245hp powerplant, 14hp more than the previous engine, and 520Nm of torque, 20Nm more than before. The upgrade in performance means the 330d Coupé achieves zero to 62mph in 6.0 seconds compared to 6.6 seconds previously, while also being capable of 49.6mpg on the combined cycle (vs 46.3mpg) and emissions of 152g/km (vs 160g/km).

Share and Enjoy:

everythingCARS.net