The Hindu : Metro Plus Vijayawada / Wheels : 3 cheers for India!

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007

Metro Plus Vijayawada

Published on Saturdays

Metro Plus Bangalore Chennai Coimbatore Delhi Hyderabad Kochi Madurai Mangalore Puducherry Tiruchirapalli Thiruvananthapuram Vijayawada Visakhapatnam

3 cheers for India!

This is one of the first cars to roll out of BMW's new plant in Chennai. HARMAN R A J MADON gets behind the wheel of the new 320i

Even with the ride height bumped up to 161mm on the Indian-built car, body roll is minimal and this car holds its line like no other executive sedan can hope to

BEE-EM ME UP The 3 series is built for a sublime experience behind the wheel. If you prefer the rear seat though, it might be a better idea to look elsewhere

For the well heeled who enjoy driving, BMWs have long been the default choice. Available in India as an import for a while now, the good news is that BMW have set up shop in the country, in a state-of-the-art plant in Chennai.

A six-cylinder sound track, rear-wheel drive and responsive steering are a recipe for silly smiles and a heartbeat that builds in tempo. Now, you can buy your made-in-India BMW from your friendly neighbourhood dealership. BMW now assembles the 3-series and 5-series cars from their model range in Chennai. With a commitment to quality and a Germanic methodical approach to perfection, these cars are sure to set the pulse racing for many. We drove the first model to roll off the lines in Chennai, the 320i, which has a 1995cc 4-cylinder engine, producing 136bhp and 19.37kgm of torque. The torquey 320d diesel and top-of-the-line 325i will follow shortly.

Styling and looks

Unmistakable as anything but a BMW, the styling has evolved from the radical Bangle-inspired flutes and creases to a sober but stylish package which does not fail to turn heads. The deep bumper and trademark kidney grille, flanked by the twin headlights swoop over and around the bonnet and sides. There is a natural progression to the design, as it runs front to back, with tight skinning and perfect shut lines augmenting the shape. The high waist and measured glass area are swoopy, yet taut, and the ridgeline, which runs along the length of the car, accentuates the dynamism in the design.

Inside story

On the inside, the 3 is a case study in measured design. Beautifully made, with quality materials and a tactile feel to all the switches and controls, it still is a no-nonsense approach to car design. It has all you need or want and it's all beautifully put together but thankfully desists from being `bling'. The wheel is just the right size and the seats are a tad firm but are accommodating for a variety of sizes. In addition the car comes with climate control with rear air con vents, leather seats, six-CD/MP3 player, automatic windshield wipers and rear parking sensors.

Ride and handling

With a 2760mm wheelbase and short overhangs, the 3-series sits purposefully on its run-flat tyres - another BMW speciality - eliminating the need of a spare. The Indian-built cars however, will be provided with a spare tyre. The run flat tyres feature a stiffer sidewall, which while compromising ride quality slightly, enable a fully laden car to be driven at up to 80kph for 50km even after losing air, a boon especially for lady drivers.

BMWs are known for their handling and the 3-series uses a unique double joint spring and strut system for better wheel location under varying loads on the front suspension. The rear suspension has no less than five independent links and both front and rear suspensions are mounted on independent sub frames with a lot of the components manufactured from lightweight aluminium.

The 320i comes with a host of driver aids including traction control, stability control and cornering brake control, making for a fail-safe handling package. What undoubtedly aids handling is the optimised weight distribution, the engine pushed far back in the chassis, the rest of the ancillaries packaged around it.

In the hood

This motor utilises BMWs infinitely variable valve timing (double VANOS) and variable length intakes (Valvetronic), which aid both outright power and driveability and revs to 6500rpm. But at 1395kg, the 320i is not exactly endowed with a generous power-to-weight ratio. It takes 11.57 seconds to get to 100kph from zero, brisk but not particularly quick, though it manages a top speed on the wrong side of 200 clicks. The gearbox is a six speed automatic with a manual over-ride and is good to use but the flexibility of a full manual system is lacking, which is disappointing.

But you forgive the car its flaws. The six-cylinder 325i will be the default choice for those who want seamless power delivery and velvet-gloved steel-fisted punch. But for now, we revel in the 3's handling. Even with the ride height bumped by 17mm to 161mm on the Indian-built car, body roll is minimal and this car holds its line like no other executive sedan can hope to. The 225-section tyres all round just grip and then some more, the well-weighted if slightly heavy steering seems like a surgical implement. It does talk to you and you are assured the peace of mind of the active and passive systems (eight airbags!), so you can let loose and have a bit of fun. After all, if you buy this car, you buy it because you love to drive. And even when driven enthusiastically, it still manages to return a very respectable 9.05 kpl overall, so it doesn't really burn a hole in your wallet. At 28.31 lakh for this model, ex-showroom, Mumbai, it is competitively priced too - sure to cause ripples in the market.

* * *

TECHNICAL DATA

BMW 320i

How much?

Rs 28.31 lakh

(ex-showroom, Mumbai)

On sale?

Now

Engine

Layout: 4-cylinder 1995cc with Double VANOS, Valvetronic systems, petrol

Max power: 136 bhp

Max torque: 19.37 kgm