Meet BMW’s Sweet New Diesel-Powered 3 Series M Wagon

Once again the United States is BMW’s bridesmaid and not its bride, as the German automaker is bringing a handful of 3 Series models to the Geneva show that are—of course—not earmarked for U.S. sale. That’s not to say they’re not worth knowing about, though, and arguably the most lustworthy of the pack is the […]

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Once again the United States is BMW’s bridesmaid and not its bride, as the German automaker is bringing a handful of 3 Series models to the Geneva show that are—of course—not earmarked for U.S. sale. That’s not to say they’re not worth knowing about, though, and arguably the most lustworthy of the pack is the M340d.

Available in both sedan and wagon forms, the all-wheel-drive M340d packs a 340-hp turbo-diesel 3.0-liter inline-six under its hood that receives occasional assistance from a 48-volt, 11-hp starter-generator. Torque is predictably abundant, and the engine packs a mountainous 516 lb-ft of twist. 

Unsurprisingly, the M340d is properly quick, with the sedan needing 4.6 seconds to reach 62 miles per hour. The wagon, meanwhile, requires 4.8 seconds to hit the same mark. For reference, the four-cylinder gasoline-powered 330i required 5.4 seconds to hit 60 mph in our hands.

Accompanying the M340i on the Geneva stage is the 330e plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid, which also comes in two- or three-box body styles. Equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor integrated into its eight-speed automatic gearbox, the rear- or all-wheel-drive 330e models boast 252 peak horses. However, an XtraBoost function within the vehicles’ Sport mode allows the powertrain to add 40 hp to the mix for up to 10 seconds, resulting in a temporary total of 292 peak ponies. All in, the 330e wagon model cruises to 62 mph in 6.1 seconds.

While the U.S. won’t receive the 330e wagon, we will experience its powertrain trickery in the form of the 330e sedan that goes on sale in the spring. Expect the North American-spec PHEV 3 to offer a driving range of more than 20 miles.

We know diesel engines and wagon body styles aren’t popular in the U.S., but we still can’t help feeling left out from enjoying the torque-rich joy of the BMW M340d and the inherent versatility of the 330e wagon. One of these days we’ll catch BMW’s bouquet. Alas, it’s not happening today.

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