BMW expands 3 Series - including 4wd

BMW has introduced an xDrive (4wd) 3 Series, for the first time ever in the UK – and a new 320i hybrid.

The xDrive is available initially on the 320i and is powered by the 184 PS 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. It costs £27,400 for the SE model. With the six-speed manual gearbox the 320i xDrive accelerates from zero to 62mph in 7.4 seconds and has pretty respectable fuel consumption and CO2 figures of 41.5mpg and 159g/km. The optional eight-speed automatic transmission improves economy and emissions to 43.5mpg and 152g/km while adding only a tenth of a second to the zero to 62mph time.