BMW PH brings 3 Series Touring in three exciting versions

Exterior highlights of the BMW 318i and BMW M340i xDrive Touring.

The BMW 3 Series Touring is undeniably one of the most stylish options in the brand's product range with an extremely striking design from the facade to the rear.

Up front, the BMW kidney grille and twin circular headlights have been meticulously redesigned to give the vehicle a strong visual presence. The BMW kidney grille now has a more powerful appearance with the addition of new double bars and lightly modified contours. It is flanked by standard full-LED headlights for the BMW 318i Touring while the BMW M340i xDrive Touring comes equipped with Adaptive LED Headlights – these include a range of functions such as cornering light, non-dazzling matrix high beam, dynamic headlight range control, and variable light distribution. There are also air intakes located beneath the kidney grille of both variants, which are finished in black high gloss to provide a more aggressive look.

The two variants of the BMW 3 Series Touring feature a boldly sporty appearance – a visual quality emphasized by the standard-specified M High-gloss Shadowline with extended contents. Moreover, the M340i xDrive Touring is specified with the M Sport Package Pro while the new BMW 318i Touring features the Exterior Line Satin Aluminum trim. These allow the two variants to clearly express the dynamism and modernity woven into the exterior design of the restructured model range. In addition, roof rails are fitted as standard on both vehicles – the BMW 318i Touring carries aluminum satinated roof rails, while the BMW M340i xDrive Touring is fitted with M roof rails high-gloss Shadowline. 

Both variants of the BMW 3 Series Touring have varying sets of wheels to reflect their character. The BMW 318i Touring comes with Double-spoke style 18” light alloy wheels and standard brakes, while the BMW M340i xDrive Touring has 19” double-spoke M light-alloy bi-colour wheels with M Sport brakes painted in red high-gloss.

Interior highlights of the BMW 318i and BMW M340i xDrive Touring.

The new BMW 3 Series Touring range delivers an impressive combination of spaciousness, contemporary functionality, exceptional acoustic comfort, high-quality materials showcasing intricate workmanship, and state-of-the-art digital services. This results in a driving experience that offers uncompromising premium quality, both in daily use and during extended trips.

The interior trim of the vehicle differs depending on the variant. The BMW 318i Touring has interior trim finishers in Aluminum “Mesheffect,” and the BMW M340i xDrive Touring comes with M interior trim finishers “Carbon Fiber.”

In line with their sporty dispositions, the BMW 318i Touring and M340i xDrive Touring come with sports seats for both the driver and the front passenger in Sensatec Perforated upholstery.

For comfort, three-zone automatic climate control is featured in the new model. The on-board climate control system can be adjusted conveniently through voice commands or touch control on the control display. The temperature controls for both the driver and front passenger sides are displayed permanently for easy access and customization.

Apart from the range’s unique interior character and guaranteed comfort, the vehicle’s cabin focuses on advanced digitalization to further allow the 3 Series to embody the brand's signature driver-centric approach. This includes the BMW Widescreen Display which joins a 14.9-inch control display and 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel to create a single fully digital and high-resolution unit that runs on the latest-generation BMW Operating System 8.

The new BMW Operating System 8 offers many more options for drivers to enjoy easy, intuitive, multimodal control of vehicle, navigation, infotainment, and communication functions. As evidenced by the BMW Widescreen Display and the continually expanding capabilities of the BMW Intelligent Voice Assistant, it is geared squarely towards dialogue using touch control and natural speech. The system also brings optimized wireless smartphone integration, with both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, in all the variants of the new BMW 3 Series Touring. To increase connectivity on the road, a wireless charging tray can also be found in the center control island.

To complement the vehicle’s infotainment features, the BMW 318i Touring comes with the BMW HiFi Loudspeaker system, while the BMW M340i xDrive Touring comes with the Harman Kardon Surround Sound system.

Other additions to the specification of the BMW 3 Series Touring variants include an automatically dimming rear-view mirror, the extended storage package, and Park Distance Control (PDC) with sensors at the front and rear.

Functionality highlights.

Functionality is a key aspect of the BMW 3 Series Touring. It offers a generous 500-liter luggage compartment with all seats up. The roller tonneau cover offers privacy and more secure stowage of items in the luggage compartment. If bulky items need to be transported in the rear, the tonneau cover can be rolled up and stored on the luggage compartment floor. For further storage space, the BMW 3 Series Touring can offer up to 1,510 liters of stowage with the 40:20:40 rear seat backrest folded down fully.

For greater convenience and ease of use, the BMW 3 Series Touring offers a separate luggage compartment window – perfect for loading and unloading smaller objects without having to open the rear hatch.

Driver assistance highlights.

The new BMW 3 Series Touring offers a wide range of driver assistance systems that ensure safety and comfort to a whole new level. The automated parking system is comprehensive and accessible, aiding the driver and reducing their workload in various situations. Ultrasonic and radar sensors, along with camera images, are utilized by the new BMW 3 Series Touring to monitor the surroundings of the vehicle. This data is used to alert the driver of potential hazards, minimize accident risks with steering and braking inputs, and perform automated parking and other maneuvers.

The new BMW 3 Series also comes with a wide variety of systems for assisted parking and maneuvering. The Parking Assistant helps the driver to select and park in spaces either parallel or perpendicular to the road. This system facilitates the required steering inputs, acceleration, braking, and gear changes with the Steptronic transmission during the process of entering or exiting a space. Other elements of the assistance systems are the Reversing Assist Camera, the Lateral Parking Aid and the Active PDC, which uses brake inputs to reduce the risk of collisions. Its range of functions also includes the Reversing Assistant, which reverses the car for distances of up to 50 meters along the same line it took when moving forward.

Driving dynamics.

Highly efficient petrol engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology ensure the powertrains available for the new BMW 3 Series Touring strike an exceptionally fine balance between driving pleasure and fuel economy. The sporting character of the power delivery is underscored by the now likewise standard gearshift paddles on the multifunction steering wheel, which enable extremely rapid manual interventions in the gear selection process.

The BMW 318i Touring carries the in-line 4-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine which produces 156 hp and 250 Nm of torque, paired to an 8-speed Steptronic transmission with gearshift paddles. The BMW M340i xDrive Touring features the M TwinPower Turbo Petrol engine. Its B58 engine has an output of 374 hp and 500 Nm of torque with an 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, allowing this model to go from 0 to 100 in 4.6 seconds.

The first-ever BMW M3 Competition xDrive Touring.

BMW is introducing the first-ever Touring model from the renowned M division – the M3 Competition xDrive Touring. This M-powered vehicle offers a blend of dynamic performance, practicality, and long-distance capabilities. Its exterior design is both extravagant and distinct, showcasing sleek surfaces, a sporty silhouette, and special design elements unique to the M series.

Key features of the BMW M3 Competition xDrive Touring include a vertically oriented kidney grille, large side air intakes, sculpted wheel arches, extended side skirts, M High-gloss Shadowline trim, M roof rails with high-gloss Shadowline finish, and a Gurney air-directing flap incorporated into the roof spoiler.

The S58 version of the six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology developed for the Competition models in the BMW M3/M4 line-up produces maximum output of 510 hp and peak torque of 650 Nm. Its cooling and oil supply systems are designed to handle extremely high longitudinal and lateral dynamic forces on the track. And the M-specific exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps generates an emotionally arresting soundtrack that brings an extra layer to the performance experience.

The BMW M3 Competition xDrive Touring has a finely tuned chassis that complements its performance and concept. It strikes a harmonious balance between sporty driving and comfort for everyday and long-distance journeys. The chassis undergoes extensive testing on various road types, ensuring agility, dynamics, and precision. The car features adaptive M suspension, M Servotronic steering, and an integrated braking system. The M3 Touring offers M Compound brakes in red high-gloss and standard forged M light-alloy wheels in 19/20” M forged wheels in double spoke style 826 M Bicolor Black with mixed tires. The Dynamic Stability Control system includes wheel slip limitation, and the car has M Dynamic Mode and M Traction Control. In 2WD mode, the driver can adjust wheel slip limitation for precise handling during intense cornering on the track.

The BMW M3 Touring comes with the BMW Widescreen Display, featuring a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display. The information display shows driving information with new graphics and an M-specific style. The control display's home screen can feature M-specific widgets with car setup and tire condition info. The M-specific control system has a Setup button for direct access to engine, chassis, steering, braking system, and M xDrive settings. The steering wheel's M buttons can store two vehicle setups. M Drive Professional includes M Traction Control, M Drift Analyzer, and M Laptimer. The M Mode button adjusts driver assistance system responses and display content, with ROAD, SPORT, and TRACK settings to choose from.

The car has electrically adjustable M Sport seats with memory function, seat heating, and Merino leather with extended contents as standard. The rear compartment has three full-size seats with a split 40:20:40 backrest. Folding seats expand the load capacity from 500 to 1,510 liters. The car has an automatic tailgate, separately opening rear window, and a storage compartment under the boot floor.

The BMW M3 Competition xDrive Touring includes standard comfort features like three-zone automatic climate control, BMW Live Cockpit Plus with navigation, ambient lighting, Harman Kardon Surround Sound system, and an interior/exterior mirror package. The safety features include Park Distance Control. Optional automated driving and parking systems are available, such as Parking Assistant.

The BMW M3 Touring has the latest-generation BMW iDrive system based on BMW Operating System 8. It offers intuitive interaction through speech and touch control, along with the BMW Intelligent Voice Assistant and BMW Widescreen Display. It also features include wireless smartphone integration with CarPlay® and Android Auto™. A wireless charging tray can also be found in the center control island.

The BMW 318i Touring and BMW M340i xDrive Touring retail for Php 3,890,000 and Php 5,890,000 respectively, while the BMW M3 Competition xDrive Touring retails for Php 10,490,000. All variants of the BMW 3 Series Touring come with a 5-year comprehensive BMW Warranty.

Launch event photos by Randolph de Leon

Press photos by BMW