India-bound 2016 BMW 3 Series – 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show Live

Features mild updates and a hybrid addition to the lineup.

BMW is showcasing the 2016 BMW 3 Series facelift at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car has received minor exterior changes and equipment updates as part of the facelift.

The fascia gets a revised bumper and changes to the air intakes. The signature kidney grille is flanked by the headlight assembly which feature Bi-Xenon lights as standard and Adaptive LEDs as optional equipment. The rear comes with redesigned tail-light LED clusters and a re-profiled bumper.

Not much has changed inside. It still comes with a driver-focused cabin with chrome accents for the AC vents, center console, steering wheel and door pads. A gloss black finish has been used for the center console, on top of which sits the BMW iDrive infotainment display. Other equipment include an head-up display, rear view camera, lane change warning, driver assist, ConnectedDrive navigation and real time traffic information.

The 2016 BMW 3 Series introduces a new 340i variant, which is powered by an inline six, twin-turbo engine producing 326 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Also on offer are 2.0-liter four cylinder petrol and diesel engines delivering 245 hp/350 Nm and 184 hp/380 Nm respectively. It is paired to a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic.

A BMW 330e PHEV will also join the 3-Series lineup for 2016. This variant will be powered by a 2.0-liter four cylinder turbo petrol unit that drives the rear wheels and an electric motor that is placed at the front. The combined output is 248.6 bhp and 420 Nm that are sent to the wheels through an 8-speed automatic unit, propelling the sedan from 0-100 kmph in a claimed 6.1 seconds. The 330e can travel up to 40 km in pure-electric mode.

The 2016 BMW 3 Series will be coming to India later this year, although the BMW 330e is unlikely to be included in the range.