BMW 318i heading for South Africa

BMW has announced a series of revisions to the 7 and 8 Series, as well as the X5, X6 and X7, while also confirming the reintroduction of the 318i as the new entry-level 3 Series.

Officially set for introduction in March, the enhancements to the 7 and 8 Series, including the M8, will be automatic soft-closing doors, while from April, the X5, X6 and X7 will have the option of Canberra beige or black Vernasca leather.

Unveiled in July last year, the X6 receives the bulk of the trim updates with cognac/black Vernasca leather and four BMW individual Merino finishes; tartufo/black, ivory white/ night blue or black and ivory white/black on offer.

An all-leather Merino coffee/black and Tartufo/black rounds the new upholstery choices off, along with two new wood veneers: open-pored anthracite brown and high-grade poplar grain.

Arriving soon afterwards, the 318i dispenses with the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder offered in the previous F30 generation 3 Series in favour of the same 2.0-litre B48 engine used in the 320i and the 330i.

Retuned to produce 115kW/250Nm, the blown-four will be paired to the eight-speed Steptronic gearbox as standard.

This results in the 318i going from 0-100km/h in 8.4 sec and on to a top speed of 223km/h. Confirmed to arrive during the second quarter, the 318i is likely to carry a price tag of around R600 000 – seeing as the 320i kicks-off at R643 036.

BMW to revise 7 and 8 Series as well as X5, X6 and X7