BMW M340i: The Last of It’s Kind ?

BMW has always been known for their performance oriented cars and their M-subdivision just boosts the performance to the next level. The entry level option in the M-Range available in India is the M340i.

What Makes The M340i One Of It’s Kind ?

The M340i is a more performance oriented version of the entry level 3-Series which competes with the C63 AMG of Mercedes that now comes with a 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine. The previous generation of the AMG came with a Twin-Turbo V8 and Mercedes received massive backlash from critics because of this decision. Another thing that makes the M340i a better option than the C63 AMG is the pricing.The M340i costs ₹74.90 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi) while the C63 AMG costs ₹1.95 Crore (Ex-Showroom). The other competitors of the M340i include the Audi S5 Sportback and Volvo S90 which don’t offer the same performance as the BMW.

Highlights

• The BMW M340i comes with a 3.0L inline 6 engine that produces 369BHP and 500NM.
• The sedan can go from 0-100 in 4.4 seconds.
• The M340i costs ₹74.90 lakhs (Ex-Showroom Delhi).
• The M Sport suspension comes with a stiffer spring and damper design that makes the daily driving less comfortable than the regular 3-Series.
• The M340i comes with a Reversing Assistant that remembers the steering movements of the last 50 meter travelled and can automatically Retrace the route covered with a press of a button.

Exterior

From the outside the M340i is just a sportier version of the regular 3-Series But it is still able to distinguish itself from the 330i on the roads.

• The M340i comes with an active grill in the front that often receives criticism from as it is not able to perform as good as a normal grill would have performed.
• It gets LED lights in the front and in the back as well.
• From the side, the BMW gets sporty looking R19 inches alloy wheels with red brake calipers that do not perform the best when it comes to braking, but get the job done.
• Rest all remains the same as the 330i except a few sportier inserts here and there.

Interior

The M340i comes with interior that has a blend of both performance and features. A few features in the BMW are listed below:

• The Interior of the BMW comes with a curved display that includes 14.9 inches infotainment system and 12.3 inches driver’s display
• The screens in the car are angled towards the driver which can be a point of concern at times.
• The feel good features in the car include a 4-Zone automatic climate control, a heads-up display, electronically adjustable front seats, a single pane electronically operated sunroof and ambient lighting.
• The instrument cluster in the M340i is a more performance oriented one but it can be difficult to guide through at times.

Powertrain

• The BMW M340i comes with a 3.0L inline 6 engine that produces 369BHP and 500NM.
• The M340i comes with a single engine and a single gearbox which is an 8-Speed TC.
• It gets an AWD configuration as standard.
• The M340i has got a beautiful exhaust note thanks to the M Sport exhaust Unit.
• It is the fastest BMW to be produced in India and the fastest ICE car to be built in India.

Conclusion

The BMW M340i is a great performance car that offers a great blend of performance and practicality which is a good option to take to the track because of the performance it offers, but it might not be the best daily driver because of it’s stiff suspension setup and handling ability.