Auto Express 1747

THERE’S a familiar name and shape on the cover this week, as BMW ramps up the technology on its iconic 3 Series saloon – to devastating effect. But three days in Munich last week showed us that while this iteration is all but certain to be the last 3 Series as we know it, BMW is right on track with what comes next. Sustainable mobility is a marketing buzzphrase that’s been clogging up the E-mail inboxes and notebooks of Auto Express journalists for years. But in the depths of its innovation centre, BMW showed us compelling evidence of what this approach will actually mean to the cars we’ll be buying from the middle of this decade. We’ll probably all notice it first when we realise – or are told – that our…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Improving cabin tech has been major focus of facelift ● 3 Series remains superb to drive on any road THE days when the BMW 3 Series was a piece of automotive currency, like the Ford Mondeo or the Volkswagen Golf, have probably gone now, thanks to the inexorable transition towards SUVs. But sales of the Munich manufacturer’s iconic three-box premium saloon have actually remained steady in recent years, with it finding around 20,000 customers in the UK annually. This, plus continued big sales numbers from China, has been good enough to earn fresh investment in a facelift from BMW. And now it’s time to see if the money has been well spent. From the outside, not a great deal has changed compared with the G20 3 Series that’s been on sale since 2019;…

THE estate version of the 3 Series accounts for around half of the model’s sales in its native Germany, but barely 10 per cent in the UK. That’s an odd stat that’s likely to remain in place, even after the 3 Series Touring gets the same worthy updates as the saloon. Indeed, you could argue that the 320d Touring we’re trying here makes a good case for two lost causes – the estate bodystyle, and diesel power. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produces 187bhp and a hefty 400Nm of torque, taking the car from 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds and ensuring that it can still make swift progress even when the loadbay is in full use. It’s a fantastic motor and one that has been cleverly installed, with little or no vibration to speak…

THERE’S a familiar name and shape on the cover this week, as BMW ramps up the technology on its iconic 3 Series saloon – to devastating effect. But three days in Munich last week showed us that while this iteration is all but certain to be the last 3 Series as we know it, BMW is right on track with what comes next. Sustainable mobility is a marketing buzzphrase that’s been clogging up the E-mail inboxes and notebooks of Auto Express journalists for years. But in the depths of its innovation centre, BMW showed us compelling evidence of what this approach will actually mean to the cars we’ll be buying from the middle of this decade. We’ll probably all notice it first when we realise – or are told –…

sean_carson@autovia.co.uk ● Concept previews future tech ● No plans for production DACIA has unveiled its Manifesto Concept, a two-seat off-road buggy that looks ahead as the Renault-owned maker reinvents itself for a new chapter. While the Manifesto won’t go into production, the tech on board will influence features that we may see on future models, such as the next Duster SUV coming in 2024, and the Bigster family SUV due in 2025. The Manifesto also affirms Dacia’s core pillars with a realigned focus: ‘essential but cool’, ‘robust and outdoor’, and ‘eco-smart’. According to Design Director David Durand, the Manifesto is a “great way to brainstorm ideas and design codes without the pressure of production – some that you will see in our future models. We’ve pushed back limits and removed our constraints.” With that in mind –…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Improving cabin tech has been major focus of facelift ● 3 Series remains superb to drive on any road THE days when the BMW 3 Series was a piece of automotive currency, like the Ford Mondeo or the Volkswagen Golf, have probably gone now, thanks to the inexorable transition towards SUVs. But sales of the Munich manufacturer’s iconic three-box premium saloon have actually remained steady in recent years, with it finding around 20,000 customers in the UK annually. This, plus continued big sales numbers from China, has been good enough to earn fresh investment in a facelift from BMW. And now it’s time to see if the money has been well spent. From the outside, not a great deal has changed compared with the G20 3 Series…