Monday 27th January 2020

BMW M340d leaks on configurator

Coveting a new BMW saloon with a straight six? They still exist...

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By every conceivable measure, the new BMW 3 Series is an excellent car - another class leader, in fact. It probably won’t have escaped anyone’s attention, however, that the straight-six engines that were once the USP of the 3 Series are noticeable by their scarcity. Only the 330d and M340i xDrive have more than four cylinders, which is a bit of a shame - if understandable.

Now that looks to be changing, with this M340d xDrive. Borrowing the 3.0-litre diesel from the X3 and X4 M40d, it should be producing 340hp and 516lb ft, channelled to the road via the eight-speed automatic gearbox and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive. We say ‘should’, because the car doesn’t yet officially exist; BMW hasn’t announced the car anywhere, and these pictures are screengrabs from a configurator that is no longer available. But if it’s made it as far as the configurator, it surely has to exist. Doesn’t it?

What a car it could make for, too, with enormous performance and diesel frugality cloaked in a handsome, subtle 3 Series. Diesel may not exactly be in great demand currently, though that shouldn’t detract from the appeal of some recent (and brilliant) diesels - even if it inevitably does, somewhat. 

There isn’t word yet from BMW UK about the viability of the M340d for our roads, but given the X3 and X4 are available here you would have to hope it’s a matter of when and not if. Which would give the Audi S4 a formidable rival, and the ‘all the car you’ll ever need’ debate another contender…

[Source: Motor1]

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Search for a BMW 3 Series here

[runnerbean 14]

Presumably a response to the new Audi S4. As those seem to be quite heavily discounted at the moment, BMW may think twice, which would be a shame . . .