The very clever chaps at Donut Media have given us the morphtastic animation of the BMW 3 Series. We applaud them and thank the for sharing it with the world.
If you’d like to buy a poster charting the lineage of the 3 Series the Donut lads have you covered there too.
[Source: Donut Media]
The local launch of the BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is drawing closer, and if you’re keen on this car the official word is you’ll have to wait until 1 September. But we think you’ll be able to find these cars in dealerships around the country before then.
Australian pricing for the F34 GT was first announced back in June and there’s been no changes since then. To quickly recap there will be three models offered to begin with: 320i GT ($69,500), 320d GT ($71,800) and 328i GT ($76,500). Like the regular 3 Series range, all GT models can be optioned with Modern, Luxury or Sport lines.
While the architecture from F30 saloon is the basis for the GT, it rides on a wheelbase that has been extended by 110mm in a body that is 200mm longer overall. Throw in an extra 81mm in height and you end up with the most spacious 3 Series variant you can get your hands on.
Full details from BMW Australia can be found below, including a 15 page specifications document available for download.
BMW Australia has announced pricing for the 3 Series GT. It’s still a while away from finding its way into local showrooms, but the biggest 3 Series money can buy will kick off proceedings with three engine options:
(Manufacturer’s list pricing)
This image was taken from the 330d press material. It’s a pretty cool shot. Click on the image above to load a 2000x1320px version. I hope you like it.
Later this month the 2009 model upgrade of the BMW 3 Series will roll out across the country’s showrooms. The range will start with the 320i at $54,100 and, M3 aside, tops out with the 335i at $111,700.
As to be expected the options and standard equipment levels have also been given a tweak, along with the exterior styling. This includes standard leather seats, Park Distance Control, fog lights and rain sensors across the range.
Over 25,000 E90 3 Series models have been sold in Australia to date and the top brass seem to think they are on a winner, “The BMW 3 Series is the most successful luxury compact sport sedan in the world and we have further improved the offering to the market with the new cars,†said Tom Noble, General Manager, Marketing, BMW Group Australia. “The range is extremely well equipped from the start, at a very attractive price point below the Luxury Car Tax threshold.”
Post increases to the Luxury Car Tax manufacturers are quick to grab a marketing edge and BMW is no different, with the 320d being exempt thanks to the car’s 6.0l/100km fuel consumption figures.
Pricing of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring range:
Sedan
Touring
More details in BMW’s release after the jump…
BMW’s most important model, the 3 Series, has recently been given a bit of a spring clean. And look at that, the lads in Munich still had a few extra crease lines in the back of their cupboards that needed some air. Good thing then, that, despite negative hype, BMW actually do know how to design a car. This mid cycle refresh has kept the 3 Series looking sharp, both figuratively and literally.
Other more obvious exterior changes included a revised headlight cluster, now with LED turn signals. The famous BMW kidney grille has been enlarged and better suits the reskinned bonnet lines. The lighting changes continue at the back, too, with a more L shaped design employed, fitting into a restyled boot detail.
Inside there is a reworked iDrive system, an 80GB hard drive for music storage, and perhaps more importantly, it can also be used for map storage to aid navigation capabilities. A few other minor cosmetic tweaks have been made, including a repositioning of window switchgear.
More detail can be read below in BMW Australia’s press release, including a full suite of photos. You’ll be able to see the new 3 Series range in Australia in early 2009.