UK Car Release Dates

Anyone looking to buy a solid entry-level luxury sedan need not look any further than the BMW 3 Series lineup. The car company has had a strong foothold in the luxury sedan segment for years and it has been the barometer for which its competitors have been chasing after. While the notion that European car brands are prohibitively expensive compared to its Asian counterparts may be true, BMW has still kept to its tested recipe of blending refinement, durability and competitive pricing to produce unmatched success in this niche luxury level market.

Scheduled for release in the UK on February 11, 2012, the BMW 3 Series as an entry-level saloon offers affordable opulence in more than just one package. As a matter of fact, in the UK alone there are five trims, seven engines and a very long list of mouthwatering options to be had that even the car dealers themselves get lost in the numbers. Shopping for a new 2012 BMW 3 Series could be a daunting task if one has no idea what the numbers on the different models denotes to. So to keep things simple, a record below is listed according to the series of the engine model so as not to get confused with the different trims, prices and specs.

The 316d, 318d and 320d are all 2.0 litre, inline-4 twin-turbocharged diesel engines with 116hp, 143hp and 184hp respectively. The 320i (184hp), 328i (245hp), 335i (306hp) are all 6-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines with varying degrees of horsepower and fuel economy ratings. Those engine specs are what powers the following 2012 BMW 3-Series trims:

• The basic ES model with the 316d has an entry price for luxury that starts at £24,880.
• The SE trim starts at £25,860 and can be had in the following models: 320i, 328i, 316d, 318d, 320d EfficientDynamic/SE. The 320d EfficientDynamics is a tuned down version of the 320d and is designed for fuel efficiency rated at 68.9mpg. It still has 163 horses on tap when needed to accelerate or overtake on the open road.

• The Sport trim, which starts at £26,860, can be had in: 320i, 316d, 318d, 320d versions.
• The Modern trim costs between £26,860 to £35,525  is has th efollowing variants: 320i, 328i, 335i, 318d, 320d.
• The top of the line Luxury trim costs for as much as £37,025 also carries the same engines as the Modern trim under the bonnet but has more feature amenities inside.

A 6-speed manual transmission and RWD is standard for all models and so are the following: Bluetooth telephone preparation, USB audio interface, 6.5" high-resolution Control Display and iDrive controller, 17” alloy wheels (18” for Luxury trim) with run-flat tyres, front/side/curtain airbags, Dynamic Stability Control with ABS, remote alarm with immobiliser, power locks/windows and a host of safety features. There’s also a long list of class-leading optional extras that would rival Santa’s list but one thing is clear: getting any one of the different BMW 3 Series models is worth the splurge.

BMW 3 Series, luxury, sedan

The BMW X5 SUV has gone through major changes for the 2011 model year. Specially in its powertrain, now the new 300hp twin-scroll turbocharged I6 engine is available, not only providing more horsepower and torque than the I6 engine found in the previous 30i model, but also more fuel economy. Their V8 engine is upgraded to the 4.4 liter twin turbo available in the 7 series, the new eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on all trims; except on models with the diesel engine, which remains the same as from last year’s models. All models come with standard all-wheel drive.

BMW offers six trims for the 2011 BMW X5; the xDrive35i with a starting MSRP of $46,300, the xDrive35d with a MSRP of $51,800, the xDrive35i Premium starting at a MSRP of $52,100, the xDrive35i Sport Activity at a MSRP of $54,600; these models come with the new 3.0 I6 turbocharged engine at 300hp/300lb-ft of torque and an EPA of 17/25 mpg. The xDrive50i at a MSRP of $58,900 now available with the 4.4L V8 engine with 400hp/450lb-ft of torque with an EPA of 14/20 mpg from the 5 and 7 series sedans. Finally the diesel model; the xDrive35d with a MSRP of $51,800 and a 3.0 I6 diesel engine with 265hp/425lb-ft of torque an EPA of 19/26 mpg and a six-speed automatic transmission.

If you are looking for the performance of a sports car and the versatility of an SUV; you will find it under the M series. The 2011 BMW X5 M with a MSRP of $85,700, it comes with the 4.4L V8 turbo-powered engine at 555hp/500lb-ft of torque EPA of 13/18 mpg; paired with a six-speed automatic transmission; impressive 0-60 times of 4.5 sec and a top speed of 155mph.

The interior of the X5 is simple and elegant, with the use of high quality materials and detailed work as expected of BMW. The front seats are very comfortable and shaped to adjust to almost any driver, the second row provides lots of headroom, but not enough leg room for long legged passengers, and the third row seating (optional) is only recommended for children.

BMW BMW X5, 4x4

For the 2011 BMW X3, production moved from Austria to BMW's US factory in Spartanburg, SC which currently produces the X5 and X6 models; With the new home came a new look, it has been completely redesigned! Is bigger, more comfortable, more passenger room, head room greatly increased in both front and rear, taller than average adults should be able to sit in back without their knees touching the front seatbacks and more cargo space, a new suspension and transmission, without sacrificing performance and best of all BMW even dropped the price on the 2011 X3 and added more standard features, such as an iPod and USB interfaces, Bluetooth connectivity, and an anti-theft alarm. What more can anyone ask for now days.

The 2011 BMW X3 comes in two trims: the xDrive28i with a starting price of $36,750, a 3.0 liter engine with 240hp/221lb-ft. of torque has a normally aspirated inline six-cylinder engine while the xDrive35i with a starting price of $41,050 has a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 300hp/300lb-ft of torque. Both paired with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission, no manual transmission is available. All-wheel drive is standard on both trims. There is also a wide range of BMW X3 accessories available.

Inside, there’s a typical BMW gauge cluster, a choice of three interior leather colors with contrasting stitching and two wood trim choices; and even compromised with the American market by adding a pair of cup holders in front of the shifter. More paint color/trim options are available, but only through custom orders, a waiting period of 3 to 5 weeks to be expected.

There are several new options for the X3. Now you can order the second row seat in a 40/20/40 split, BMW’s head-up display will be on the options list; the Connected Drive package includes a very clear backup camera and an around-view system; a text-to-speech function for text messages and e-mail; and the Dynamic Handling package includes BMW’s variable sport steering.

BMW BMW X3, 4X4