Currently reading: BMW ActiveHybrid 3 priced from £40k
BMW has announced a raft of revisions to its 3-series, 5-series and 5-series GT ranges, including pricing for the ActiveHybrid 3

Prices have been announced for the BMW 3-series hybrid, ahead of its launch next month. The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will cost from £40,225 on-the-road, and will be available in SE, Modern, Luxury and M Sport specification.

It is powered by the same TwinPower 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine and 55bhp electric motor as the BMW ActiveHybrid 5, developing 340bhp and 332lb ft. Accelerating to 62mph in 5.3sec, it is 0.6sec faster than the 5-series, and its CO2 figure of 139g/km undercuts the larger car by 10g/km.

BMW claims it can travel up to 2.4 miles on electric power, and records 47.9mpg on the combined cycle. It attracts an 18 per cent benefit-in-kind rate.

July also sees the launch of the four-wheel drive BMW 3-series xDrive. The new chassis configuration will be offered in the 320i, priced from £27,000 in SE specification. A 7.4sec 0-62mph time is possible and with a manual gearbox, BMW cites 41.5mpg and 159g/km. The optional eight-speed automatic gearbox improves economy to the tune of 2mpg and 7g/km. BMW is expected to announce diesel variants over the coming months

Other changes to the 3-series range include the fitment of the eight-speed auto to the 330d and the introduction of M Sport specification. Standard features include 18-inch M-Star spoke alloy wheels, M Sport suspension, bodystyling and interior trim. M Sport grades are priced £3000 more than SE models.

The BMW 5-series GT is now offered in 520d guise, with the same 2.0-litre diesel fitted to the BMW 5-series saloon and Touring. BMW says it is capable of 53.3mpg, with emissions of 139g/km and attracting a 21 per cent BIK rate. All models in the GT range now feature start-stop as standard, reducing BIK by up to five per cent.

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Orangewheels 25 June 2012

the 3 series xDrive will be

the 3 series xDrive will be welcome after a series of bad winters, but it will very much depend on how much the 4wd blunts the CO2 figs on the diesel version.

Audi_A5 23 June 2012

BMW just trod on Audi's toes!

Great news! The days of Audi offering models without a challenge from their German competitors are over. Consumers will benefit from this.

According to the BMW website the 320i SE in 4-wheel drive will cost £27400. It's up against the Audi A4 2.0 quattro, which is admittedly a tad quicker, has the same claimed MPG, and costs £29175.

Time for Audi to start eating into those big fat profit margins that it enjoys by being a VW underneath the skin, and offering some big discounts to buyers.

BMW's next assault on Audi will be four wheel drive on 3 series diesels, and after that a 5-door hatchback variant of the 3 series in 2013.

 

The Special One 22 June 2012

I'd imagine the degree of

I'd imagine the degree of depletion of the Earth's resources in order to create that £40,000 of credit needed to purchase this car massively outweighs the benefit of the hybrid technology.

As for the car itself: 340bhp, 53.3mpg. Enough said.