The BMW 3-series is one of the best selling premium cars in Jamaica and in the world and with good reason. The car caters to a wide variety of customer with different needs. It is only in recent years that Audi's A4 and Mercedes Benz's C-class have closed the gap on performance, efficiency, features, value for money and joy to own. Due to this market's restriction in engine size in relation to tax brackets the A4 and C-class were able to beat the 3-series in several categories before the shape change, with the A4 being faster and more powerful with the 200 hp 2.0 TFSI model and the C180 being the most affordable and most efficient with the C180 1.6L variant.
However BMW launched a new 3-series late last year and the new model is longer, filled with new features and is more performance oriented throughout all segments. This is due to the introduction of turbochargers to their smaller engines. They currently offer the following options
- 320i - 2.0L, 184 hp, 270 Nm, 0-100 km/h 7.6s, top speed 233 km/h, 5.9 L/100km
- 328i - 2.0L, 245 hp, 350 Nm, 0-100 km/h 6.1s, top speed 250 km/h, 6.3 L/100km
- 335i - 3.0L, 306 hp, 400 Nm, 0-100 km/h 5.5s, top speed 250 km/h, 7.2 L/100km
- 316d - 2.0L, 116 hp, 260 Nm, 0-100 km/h 11.3s, top speed 202 km/h, 4.4 L/100km
- 318d - 2.0L, 143 hp, 320 Nm, 0-100 km/h 9.3s, top speed 210 km/h, 4.4 L/100km
- 320d - 2.0L, 184 hp, 380 Nm, 0-100 km/h 7.6s, top speed 230 km/h, 4.4 L/100km
- 320d EDE - 2.0L, 163 hp, 380 Nm, 0-100 km/h 8.1s, top speed 225 km/h, 4.1 L/100km
Stewart Motors has so far offered the new 328i and 335i to the public and should start to offer the 320i shortly. This is a problem for Audi and Mercedes Benz as the cars that compare in most cases have a much larger engine size and therefore attract higher taxes which makes the model more expensive. These models will also be less efficient in regards to fuel efficiency.
Now BMW announces it will add the following new models to its list of model variants;
- 316i - 1.6L, 136 hp, 220 Nm, 0-100 km/h 9.5s, top speed 210 km/h, 5.8 L/100km
- 320i EDE - 2.0L, 168 hp, 270 Nm, 0-100 km/h 7.6s, top speed 225 km/h, 5.2 L/100km
- 320i xDrive
- 328i xDrive
- 335i xDrive
- 320d xDrive
This will make the 3-series more comparable with the A4 and C-class that currently offer AWD on some models. There is currently no advantage for 1.6L over 2.0L in regards to taxes as they now share the same tax bracket. However the 316i will be cheaper and could carry the price of the 3-series below the magical $5,000,000 price tag. It could also offer fabric interior which would lower the price further. The last time fabric interior was offered as a stock item at Stewart Motors, 3-series had their best year with regards to sales and more customers went with premium compact sedans than midsize executive cars like the Accord, Camry, Passat and Teana.
However BMW launched a new 3-series late last year and the new model is longer, filled with new features and is more performance oriented throughout all segments. This is due to the introduction of turbochargers to their smaller engines. They currently offer the following options
- 320i - 2.0L, 184 hp, 270 Nm, 0-100 km/h 7.6s, top speed 233 km/h, 5.9 L/100km
- 328i - 2.0L, 245 hp, 350 Nm, 0-100 km/h 6.1s, top speed 250 km/h, 6.3 L/100km
- 335i - 3.0L, 306 hp, 400 Nm, 0-100 km/h 5.5s, top speed 250 km/h, 7.2 L/100km
- 316d - 2.0L, 116 hp, 260 Nm, 0-100 km/h 11.3s, top speed 202 km/h, 4.4 L/100km
- 318d - 2.0L, 143 hp, 320 Nm, 0-100 km/h 9.3s, top speed 210 km/h, 4.4 L/100km
- 320d - 2.0L, 184 hp, 380 Nm, 0-100 km/h 7.6s, top speed 230 km/h, 4.4 L/100km
- 320d EDE - 2.0L, 163 hp, 380 Nm, 0-100 km/h 8.1s, top speed 225 km/h, 4.1 L/100km
Stewart Motors has so far offered the new 328i and 335i to the public and should start to offer the 320i shortly. This is a problem for Audi and Mercedes Benz as the cars that compare in most cases have a much larger engine size and therefore attract higher taxes which makes the model more expensive. These models will also be less efficient in regards to fuel efficiency.
Now BMW announces it will add the following new models to its list of model variants;
- 316i - 1.6L, 136 hp, 220 Nm, 0-100 km/h 9.5s, top speed 210 km/h, 5.8 L/100km
- 320i EDE - 2.0L, 168 hp, 270 Nm, 0-100 km/h 7.6s, top speed 225 km/h, 5.2 L/100km
- 320i xDrive
- 328i xDrive
- 335i xDrive
- 320d xDrive
This will make the 3-series more comparable with the A4 and C-class that currently offer AWD on some models. There is currently no advantage for 1.6L over 2.0L in regards to taxes as they now share the same tax bracket. However the 316i will be cheaper and could carry the price of the 3-series below the magical $5,000,000 price tag. It could also offer fabric interior which would lower the price further. The last time fabric interior was offered as a stock item at Stewart Motors, 3-series had their best year with regards to sales and more customers went with premium compact sedans than midsize executive cars like the Accord, Camry, Passat and Teana.
