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 Last month we probably had the most expensive shootout ever. Yes , i am talking about the new BMW 7 Series taking on the Audi A8 and the Mercedes S-class. This month too , it seems we are loaded with the 3 you see on these pages - the new Mercedes ML and the comparison between the new Skoda Superb and the Honda Accord. Does this paragraph sound like an editorial? Well , my point is , recession be dammed. Actually , there is no real recession to speak of or grumble about. Every month , we see a couple of new cars (really expensive ones too) being launched and manufacturers� sales figures that continue to climb north. Take for instance , the 3 Series� sales volumes for December �08 , January �09 and February �09. The company sold 79 , 99 and 102 units in these months respectively. Prior to this , the Indian four-wheeler industry has never seen such positive sales for cars that have a sticker price ten times the cost of an average Indian family car. This is the same reason why BMW (and a few other manufacturers) is enjoying warming its bank balance and introducing upgrades or new launches at a pace faster than some carmakers can even dream of.
The 3 was the first model to be launched by the German company when it set foot on Indian shores way back in March 2007. The entry level car from the premium car maker was an instant success in the country although various shortcomings crept up soon. The modified and raised suspension was set hard to be sporty and gave a ruffled ride to its passengers. This issue was sorted out with the slightly upgraded variant last year albeit at the cost of handling. This time though , it seems BMW have found the perfect setup. While taking a couple of laps of a closed-to-traffic hill section , this  Bavarian machine not only exuded confidence but mocked back at me , pestering me into entering the curves faster and faster. The handling and grip on this car are phenomenal and far better than the competition � a trait that owners will definitely love. A lot of work has gone into making the 3 feel like this. For instance , the rear track is widened by an extra 24mm. Being One of the best handling saloons in India does , to an extent , translate into a slightly stiff ride. Go over typical bumps and the characteristic thud is felt instantly , however , the comfortable seats do absorb some of the harshness. Talking of seats , the one behind the steering wheel is the place you would want to be in. The interiors are quite familiar � high quality stuff with a design inclined towards sportiness. But frankly , it feels a touch too sporty. Any one spending close to 35 big ones would want to have a certain degree of sophisticated lavishness and a luxury feel on the inside. Even the straight horizontal lines on the fascia won�t be to everyone�s liking. However , I did appreciate the much simpler (yet laden with info) iDrive system. I have always been a fan of this system and all it takes are a few seconds to get accustomed to it. The rear seats are surprisingly comfortable , though space is at a premium. With me and Amit sitting up front with the seats pushed back , Rohit , Adhish and Mihir had a tough time at the rear.
The majority of changes are on the outside. The 3 was always a good looking car in its segment and now it looks even more dynamic with prominent cuts and sharp edges. Look at the car from the front three quarters and the new crease on the bonnet makes itself felt. There is an added hint of aggression in body lines and the two-part grille has been reworked to be in sync with other current  BMW models. Headlamps get new detailing (xenon lamps with automatic leveling) and the car gets bigger (and practical) rear view mirrors. On the back , the tail lamps use LEDs and look smashing at night. The 320d gets the same 2.0-litre diesel engine that now churns out 177PS of power with 350Nm of torque. This makes it the most powerful diesel car in this segment (compared to the Merc C220 CDI and Audi A4 2.0 TDI) although it doesn�t quite match up to the torque rating of the Audi. Nevertheless , the 320d remains as exciting to drive as ever , making the most of the six-speed auto �box (with a manual override). BMW�s new �EfficientDynamics� technology finds its way into this car as well and claims to improve efficiency by up to seven percent. A hundred comes up in nine seconds and before you know it , the needle is past 200km/h. It does all this while remaining calm and composed like a European chick sunbathing on a Goan beach , completely unaffected by the happenings around.
Is it worth paying the same amount of money as the outgoing car , Rs 30.5 lakh (ex-showroom , mind you) , for the new and improved BMW 320d? In a nutshell , yes! You will never get to have so much fun engrossing yourself in the joys of motoring. If you are thirty something and love to drive rather than being driven around , look no further. Apart from a slightly stiff ride and a lack of space at the rear , we don�t see a reason why you shouldn�t head to your nearest BMW showroom with a checkbook in your pocket. Being better is definitely good!
More photos:
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The 3 was the first model to be launched by the German company when it set foot on Indian shores way back in March 2007. The entry level car from the premium car maker was an instant success in the country although various shortcomings crept up soon. The modified and raised suspension was set hard to be sporty and gave a ruffled ride to its passengers. This issue was sorted out with the slightly upgraded variant last year albeit at the cost of handling. This time though , it seems BMW have found the perfect setup. While taking a couple of laps of a closed-to-traffic hill section , this
Bavarian machine not only exuded confidence but mocked back at me , pestering me into entering the curves faster and faster. The handling and grip on this car are phenomenal and far better than the competition � a trait that owners will definitely love. A lot of work has gone into making the 3 feel like this. For instance , the rear track is widened by an extra 24mm. Being One of the best handling saloons in India does , to an extent , translate into a slightly stiff ride. Go over typical bumps and the characteristic thud is felt instantly , however , the comfortable seats do absorb some of the harshness. Talking of seats , the one behind the steering wheel is the place you would want to be in. The interiors are quite familiar � high quality stuff with a design inclined towards sportiness. But frankly , it feels a touch too sporty. Any one spending close to 35 big ones would want to have a certain degree of sophisticated lavishness and a luxury feel on the inside. Even the straight horizontal lines on the fascia won�t be to everyone�s liking. However , I did appreciate the much simpler (yet laden with info) iDrive system. I have always been a fan of this system and all it takes are a few seconds to get accustomed to it. The rear seats are surprisingly comfortable , though space is at a premium. With me and Amit sitting up front with the seats pushed back , Rohit , Adhish and Mihir had a tough time at the rear.
The majority of changes are on the outside. The 3 was always a good looking car in its segment and now it looks even more dynamic with prominent cuts and sharp edges. Look at the car from the front three quarters and the new crease on the bonnet makes itself felt. There is an added hint of aggression in body lines and the two-part grille has been reworked to be in sync with other current
BMW models. Headlamps get new detailing (xenon lamps with automatic leveling) and the car gets bigger (and practical) rear view mirrors. On the back , the tail lamps use LEDs and look smashing at night. The 320d gets the same 2.0-litre diesel engine that now churns out 177PS of power with 350Nm of torque. This makes it the most powerful diesel car in this segment (compared to the Merc C220 CDI and Audi A4 2.0 TDI) although it doesn�t quite match up to the torque rating of the Audi. Nevertheless , the 320d remains as exciting to drive as ever , making the most of the six-speed auto �box (with a manual override). BMW�s new �EfficientDynamics� technology finds its way into this car as well and claims to improve efficiency by up to seven percent. A hundred comes up in nine seconds and before you know it , the needle is past 200km/h. It does all this while remaining calm and composed like a European chick sunbathing on a Goan beach , completely unaffected by the happenings around.
Is it worth paying the same amount of money as the outgoing car , Rs 30.5 lakh (ex-showroom , mind you) , for the new and improved BMW 320d? In a nutshell , yes! You will never get to have so much fun engrossing yourself in the joys of motoring. If you are thirty something and love to drive rather than being driven around , look no further. Apart from a slightly stiff ride and a lack of space at the rear , we don�t see a reason why you shouldn�t head to your nearest BMW showroom with a checkbook in your pocket. Being better is definitely good!
More photos:
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hi, these is very expensive car .