The G20 BMW 3 Series lineup is being
expanded in 2020 with the introduction of the 318i. Offering a lower entry
point to the petrol-powered range, it has been shorn of the F30 model‘s B38 1.5
litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine in favour of a detuned version of the
B48 2.0 litre four-pot.
In this application, the mill churns out
156 PS and 250 Nm of torque, which is 28 PS and 50 Nm lower than the 320i but
20 PS and 30 Nm up on the F30 318i. It continues to be paired to a ZF
eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard and gets from zero to 100 km/h in 8.4
seconds for the sedan and 8.7 seconds for the G21 Touring wagon, while the top
speeds are 223 km/h and 220 km/h respectively.
On the flip side, the 318i is claimed to
deliver a fuel consumption figure of between 5.3 and 5.7 litres per 100 km for
the sedan and 5.7 to 6.2 litres per 100 km for the Touring. The 318i isn’t the
only new BMW variant introduced for the 2020 model year, as Munich is also
adding a front-wheel drive 120d to the F40 1 Series range, joining the
all-wheel drive 120d xDrive.
The company is also adding its 48-volt
mild hybrid system to the 320d, X3 xDrive20d and X4 xDrive20d. Introduced last
year on the 520d, it recuperates kinetic energy under deceleration, using it to
provide up to 11 PS of accelerative boost. It also allows for smoother operation
of the start/stop system, enabling the engine to be turned off when coming to a
stop from 15 km/h, as well as when coasting at speeds of up to 160 km/h.
