Indian Autos blog

If just a decade ago this news would have hit the tabloids, everyone would have just raised their hands questioning the Bavarian giant for partnering with the Korean copy car maker.

I am sure you must have read our story on how Hyundai transformed itself from being a petrolhead’s joke to being one of the leading manufacturers in the world. And what better testimony to that achievement than the No. 1 luxury car maker in the world wanting to join hands with the rising Korean star.

The long wheelbase version of the BMW 3 Series has been unveiled in Beijing in three flavors – 320Li (184bhp), 328Li (245bhp) and 335Li (306bhp).

Check out the BMW 3 Series LWB image gallery

The motors are exactly the same as the ones lurking beneath the bonnet of the normal wheelbase 320i, 328i and 335i variants. BMW says the 3er LWB is focused on the Chinese customer and is an understanding of their needs and desires.

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It’s no surprise that the Germans rule the roost when it comes to the luxury market because they are the ones that take maximum risk. Sure, companies like Volvo and Jaguar make brilliant products but they stick to the formula. The Germans, on the other hand, are constantly inventing and innovating.

[Audi Q2, BMW X4 and Audi SuperAvant will take product lines to avenues unknown thus far]

And it’s not just technologies, it’s entire product lines. Earlier, the luxury car market only constituted of long sedans and bulky SUVs. But the game has entirely changed. Now its all about coupes, crossovers, sports tourers et al. And who took the risk first? The Germans.

We have word from our sources that BMW India has started trial production of the new 3 Series at its CKD plant located within Mahindra City near Chennai. Series production is expected to start next month and once that’s on, it is only a matter of weeks before a market launch unfolds.

See comprehensive spyshots and video of the 3 Series captured on the roads of Chennai

The new 3er was spied and photographer comprehensively last month and its road presence is close to that of the 5 Series. Sources said BMW is not using the corporate edition strategy with the new 3 Series. The entry level model (320i) is loaded with features such as iDrive, cruise control, etc. Pop the hood and you’ll find a twin-turbocharged petrol engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission!

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BMW’s Driver Training program has been introduced in India for BMW customers and prospects in Delhi, NCR and Chennai. Recently, Indian Autos Blog was invited to be part of this program at the Madras Motor Sports Club in Irungattukottai, bang opposite to the Hyundai manufacturing plant.

I took along my friend and longstanding Indian Autos Blog reader GK Gokulraj of ZAPStore.com, to provide us a reader perspective. Gokul and I drove gently to the road leading to the race track hoping that we’d snag a test mule. Testers of Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and Mitsubishi disappointed us, but what BMW had in store made us forget our unfruitful drive.

BMW has no plans to sell the long wheelbase 3 Series model outside China, but we see it changing soon as many BMW owners in places like India find their rear seats ideally suited for their journeys.

BMW has stretched the regular 3 Series’ wheelbase by 110mm to provide 2,920mm of utilizable space for passengers. The overall length has increased to 4,734mm.

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IAB readers are all aware that BMW is in the process of giving minor facelifts to all its models before their successors take over. The BMW X6 was the first model to get its due updates. We then reported about camouflaged test mules of the X1 and the 7 series.

Thus we fully realize that the BMW X1 is not far away from a midlife facelift. We also published a speculative rendering of what the updates might be.

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Our good friends at Auto Zeitung have managed to snap up some details of the upcoming BMW X5. They have compiled all the information that they got from BMW into a very neat rendering giving us a glimpse of the upcoming SUV.

As one can see, BMW is all set to extend the design language of new BMW 3 Series to its other products.

jump past the break for all the details