BMW unveiled the next iteration of the new 3 Series. This time, it's all about the 330e hybrid. Besides focusing on ecology and economy, the manufacturer ensured that driving the BMW 330e is a joyful experience.
Just like its predecessor, the 330e is equipped with a 2-liter petrol engine and an electric motor. The total power and torque of the units remain unchanged at 252 hp and 420 Nm. However, this doesn't mean that BMW engineers were idle. The hybrid 3 Series has some aces up its sleeve.
The first ace is the increased electric range. If the previous generation could cover 40 km on electricity, now the manufacturer claims that this value has increased by 50 percent. According to WLTP standards, the new «three» consumes an average of 1.7 l/100 km. This is a 10% improvement compared to before, with an average CO2 emission of 39 g per kilometer.
Related: BMW 3 ActiveHybrid Sedan
A keen eye will notice that the charging port of the BMW 330e is located behind the left front wheel.
The second ace is the XtraBoost feature, allowing a temporary power increase of 41 hp to the engine setup. Typically, each 330e will have it onboard, activated after selecting the sport mode. The additional power reserve will also kick in when overtaking or after shifting the transmission lever into M/S position.
The new hybrid «three» can now reach speeds of up to 140 km/h using only the electric motor, and up to 110 km/h in hybrid mode. Previously, these values were 120 km/h and 80 km/h respectively. Performance has also improved. The 330e now accelerates to a hundred in 6 seconds (instead of 6.1), and the maximum speed is 230 km/h, 5 km/h more than before.
The luggage capacity of the hybrid version is 375 liters, expandable by folding the rear seat. The car will be available in 4 trims: Advantage, Sport Line, Luxury Line, and M Sport.
Showrooms will debut in mid-2019, but the price is currently unknown.
