Team-BHP - Corporate Edition is back; BMW set to launch an entry level 320i petrol variant

Corporate Edition is back; BMW set to launch an entry level 320i petrol variant-1603591_1.jpg

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BMW India is all set to launch a cheaper variant of its popular saloon, the 3-series, in the coming months. The new entry-level variant will be known as the 32Oi and will retail at Rs. 28.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). BMW is not new to the concept of a cost-down variant as even the previous-gen 3-series had a corporate edition on offer.

Like the corporate edition itself, the 320i skimps on some equipment in order to manage a Rs. 8 lakh price cut off the range-topping 328i turbo-petrol saloon. You now get a simplified version of the i-Drive, which instead of an 8.8-inch infotainment screen uses a smaller 6.5 inch display. A single-CD audio unit finds its way inside over the more-expensive 6-CD unit. Furthermore, the new unit is not capable of handling in-car data storage. The reverse camera present on the top-end variants will also be omitted, and the seat leather on the 328i will be replaced by faux leather.

Corporate Edition is back; BMW set to launch an entry level 320i petrol variant-tcbmw_2012_bmw_320i_004.jpg

On the outside, you’ll now find 16-inch alloy-wheels over the funkier, 18-inchers. The Xenon headlamps too get replaced by regular Halogen ones and you no more get a sunroof. This base-spec, 3-series is also available in a few international markets, which allows us to speculate all the omissions.

As the name suggests, the 320i is powered by a 1994cc, 4-cylinder, 181 BHP petrol motor that also does duty on the entry-level 5-series saloon. This unit is mated to the 328i’s, 8-speed auto transmission, with tweaked ratio’s to suit the lower power output. Most of you will remember that the same motor also powered the previous-gen 320i, although with a different gearbox.

The new entry level 3-series will compete with the likes of the Mercedes C 200 BlueEfficiency and the Audi A4 1.8 TSFI. With a price advantage of a few lakhs, the BMW definitely makes as a great buy over the competition. What we can look forward to now is a similar variant for the diesel spec as well.

SOURCE: http://goaonwheels.com/new-models/li...petrol-variant

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Originally Posted by Omtoatom (Post 2970124)

Great news indeed. This is a handy option for enthusiasts looking for an affordable yet a truly involving petrol from the Bavarian powerhouse. I'm pretty sure the 320i wouldn't disappoint in that area.

Truly should be a great deal considering it will be a RWD turbo petrol, 0 - 100 aprox 7.5x sec

Even the pricing of 28.5 L * is sweet as against;

Mercedes C 200 BlueEfficiency Rs 32.13 L *

Audi A4 1.8 TFSI Rs 29.26 L *

* All prices ex-showroom Mumbai

A review of the 320i;

http://performancedrive.com.au/2012-...ne-f30-review/

Another performance video review of the 320i;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2w5Uly5GdM&noredirect=1

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Originally Posted by karan561

Even the pricing of 28.5 L * is sweet as against;

Mercedes C 200 BlueEfficiency Rs 32.13 L *

Audi A4 1.8 TFSI Rs 29.26 L *

True. However while the Bavarians may have managed to hit the sweet spot in pricing the 320i, the stripped down F30's feature list is surely going to be a bit of a downer for many a buyer, especially when juxtaposed with the spec sheet of that of the 1.8 TFSI or even more so, the C200 BE.

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Originally Posted by karan561 (Post 2970105)

IMO this may not be called the Corporate Edition as this article clearly suggests it will be launched to counter the competitions entry-level petrol offerings.

The Corporate edition (Diesel) will eventually be launched by 2013 end (just around before new C-Class launches)

But still a great find :thumbs up

PS - I Like the rim design, makes it look > than 16" ers

Don't they already offer a base 320d at 29-odd lakhs? Below the sport-line and luxury-line trims? I thought that is the entry-level diesel (but they don't call it the corporate edition.) The feature set seems similar to the 320i CE as well.

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Originally Posted by StarScream (Post 2970439)

Yes they do offer a 320d called "baseline" model priced @ 28.9 L ( ex-showroom ) :thumbs up

Also the 320i may not be named CE, similar report on ACI website ;

http://www.autocarindia.com/News/323...l-variant.aspx

Come on now, BMW! Add a darn sunroof and complete the baseline 320i/d.

I wonder how much that will cost. A lakh? I can still understand the deletion of parking camera or sat-nav or even iPod-integration(which, apparently, is just a piece of software in the bigger iDrive, that enables the same USB port to read iPods too, along with regular pen drives). The absence of a sunroof is a big omission - (almost) all prospective buyers would sit inside and TD all cars in the 30-35L range before zeroing in on a particular vehicle. And the 320i/d would be the only cars without sunroofs.

Yes, one could spell that as B-A-D N-E-W-S for BMW. Quoting point number 3 from this thread here, we Indians need to feel good and fuzzy inside, especially while buying cars :D