Special Model with the DNA of Motorsport: The BMW 320si Saloon

BMW now offers the customer with a particular pen¬chant for
motorsport a limited edition version of the 3 Series Saloon restricted
to a total production volume of just 2,600 units: the BMW 320si.
Featuring the M Sports Package and 18-inch wheels in the same design as
the racing version, this special model boasts a fast-revving 2.0-litre
four-cylinder power unit developing maximum output of 127 kW/173 bhp at
7000 rpm. This kind of power ensures a top speed of 225 km/h or 140 mph
and acceleration to 100 km/h in just 8.1 seconds. Exclusivity in
Limited Edition. Over and above a sporting suspension set-up, the
M Sports Package featured as standard on this special model
com¬prises BMW's Aerodynamics Package with modified bump¬ers
and side-sills, sports seats, an M leather steering wheel, an M
footrest, foglamps and interior trim in aluminium. Fur¬ther standard
features are 18-inch wheels running on 225/40R18 tyres at the front and
255/35R18 tyres at the rear. The radial-styling 216 rims measuring 8
and, respectively, 8.5 inches in width and proudly bearing the BMW
Motorsport logo come from BMW's FIA World Touring Car Champion¬ship
(WTCC) racing car. Apart from the mirror caps in high-gloss satin
chrome, the chrome-plated exhaust tailpipe also shows the connoisseur
that this is the very special BMW 320si. And the red zone in the rev
counter starting at 7300 rpm and ranging all the way to 8000 rpm again
proves that this 3 Series is indeed a very special car. In addition to
the six colours generally available on the 3 Se¬ries Saloon with
the M Sports Package, the 320si is also avail¬able exclusively in
Carbon Black Metallic. Fast-Revving Power Unit with Motorsport
Technology. The heart of this exclusive limited edition model is the
high-speed four-cylinder power unit displacing 2.0 litres and
de¬veloping maximum output of 127 kW/173 bhp at 7000 rpm as well as
peak torque of 200 Nm/147 lb-ft at 4250 rpm. Compared with the regular
production model, cylinder bore is up by 1.0 mm to 85 mm or 3.35",
while stroke has been re¬duced by 2.0 mm to 88 mm or 3.46".
Instead of cast-in grey-cast-iron liners, the pistons run in special
aluminium-alloy liners stacked into the engine block. Further signs of
distinction on the crankdrive are the stiffer connecting rods as well as
a reinforced bedplate structure. In creating this high-speed power
unit, BMW's engine de¬velopment specialists intentionally decided
not to use BMW's fully variable VALVETRONIC valve drive. Instead, they
opted for conventional valve management with two overhead camshafts,
rocker arms and four valves per cyl¬inder. Doing without numerous
moving components in this way, the valve drive guarantees a high
standard of stiffness and precision even at extremely high engine
speeds both in the limited edition model and in racing. Components from
BMW's Formula 1 Factory. The cylinder head is an all-new development
from the ground up, with the rough castings coming from the Formula 1
found¬ry at BMW's Landshut Plant. Both the intake and outlet ducts
as well as the combustion chambers are processed with supreme precision
and surface quality by computerised machine tools. Together with the
larger valves and the mo¬dified flange contours on the intake and
outlet side, this en¬sures optimum fuel/air mixture formation. And
the final point is that spe¬cial spark plugs masterminded by single
ignition coils initiate the combustion process. The compression ratio
raised from 10.5 to 11.0:1 also helps to boost power by17 kW/23 hp over
the "regular" model, while the engine nevertheless still runs
on 95 RON premium fuel, just like the "standard" version.
Formula 1 technology is also to be found and admired in oth¬er
engine components such as the rocker arms coated in a special process
developed specifically for BMW's Formula 1 power units.
The four-cylinder in this new special model reaches its peak output of
127 kW/173 hp at 7000 rpm, with engine speed be¬ing limited to 7300
rpm. Thanks to the intake system with va¬riable intake manifold
length (DISA) and variable camshaft ad¬justment (bi-VANOS), torque
is up to a maximum of 200 Nm or 147 lb-ft at 4250 rpm. To take the
high temperatures in motorsport into account, BMW's engine specialists
have focused in particular on the flow of coolant optimised by large
cross-sections in the cy¬linder head. The radiator in the
six-cylinder models, in turn, ensures a good balance of temperatures at
all times. The cylinder head cover made of special carbonfibre makes an
important contribution in reducing the weight of the car by
approximately 10 kg or 22 lb versus the BMW 320i. Proud¬ly
displaying its qualities at very first sight, the cylinder head cover
not only demonstrates a direct link to motor¬sport, but also lowers
the engine's centre of gravity by reducing weight at the highest point.
The engines are largely hand-built by specialists at BMW's Hams Hall
engine plant, from where they go straight to the as¬sembly process
at BMW's Production Plant in Munich. The BMW 320si is available
exclusively in Europe with both left and right-hand drive.
Sporting Agility and Superior Handling. The six-speed manual gearbox of
the BMW 320si is laid out to give the car its top speed of 225 km/h or
140 mph in sixth gear. With its unladen weight of 1350 kg or 2977 lb
(DIN), this sporting high-performance saloon accelerates to 100 km/h in
just 8.1 seconds. Acceleration from 80 - 120 km/h or 50 - 75 mph in
fourth gear, in turn, takes an equally fast and impres¬s¬ive 7.7
seconds. And last but not least, it almost goes without saying that the
BMW 320si complies with all the require¬ments of the Euro 4
emission standard, consuming just 8.9 litres/100 km in the composite EU
fuel consumption cycle (equal to 31.7 mpg Imp). Through its concept
alone, the new Edition Model enables the driver to enjoy motorsport at
its best: The fast-revving four-cylinder responds immediately to the
accelerator pedal, offering even greater agility and an even more
dynamic re¬sponse than in the BMW 320i. The engine has a powerful
and sporting sound without in any way becoming loud or obtrus¬ive,
responding dynamically to the gas pedal and immedi¬ately giving the
driver the power and performance he - or she - desires. The sporting
and ambitious driver will also appreciate the fact that the engine
develops an even stronger braking effect when taking back the throttle,
in comparison with a VALVE¬TRONIC power unit. This is because
engine load manage¬ment is controlled in this case by a
conventional throttle butterfly. In conjunction with the short final
drive (4.10) and the M sports suspension with 18-inch wheels running on
large tyres at the front and even wider tyres at the rear, the BMW
320si allows a very sporting and dynamic style of motoring without
coming uncomfortably close to the extreme limit. Thanks to its equal
and well-balanced axle load distribution, in turn, this exclusive Sports
Saloon also excels through neu¬tral behaviour and superior agility
on the road - which explains why the experienced driver at the wheel of
the BMW 320si is able to lap the legendary Northern Circuit of
Nür¬burg¬ring in less than nine minutes. To properly cope
with the even more powerful engine, the BMW 320si comes with an even
larger and more powerful brake system: Both front and rear inner-vented
16-inch disc brakes ensure optimum acceleration at all times. And this
very special car also features extra-large wheel mounts. Limited to
2,600 units, production of the BMW 320si entering the market at a price
of Euro 32,150.- will be starting in spring 2006. The car will be making
its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March of next year and BMW
dealers will be taking orders as of December 2005. The Foundation for
Motorsport. Proceeding from the Limited Edition BMW 320si, BMW
Mo¬torsport has developed a racing version with engine output of no
less than 275 hp. This motorsport version of the BMW 320si will be
raced worldwide in 2006 in the FIA World Tour¬ing Car Championship
(WTCC) and other racing series held under the Super 2000 Regulations,
which means that BMW will be continuing its long and great tradition of
customer sport also in the year 2006. Touring car racing is indeed
BMW's most successful racing discipline so far, with the Company
bringing home more wins and victories in this category than anywhere
else: Twenty-four FIA European Championships as well as the so far only
World Champion¬ship ever awarded in 1987 and the new
Cham¬pionship in 2005 - this is the impressive list of
ach¬ievements proudly boasted by the BMW brand. And in the last two
years, BMW, racing the 320i in the European Touring Car Championship,
has brought home not only the Manu¬fac¬turer's Title, but also
- in 2004 - the Driver's Championship. In 2005, finally, BMW won both
the Driver's (Andy Priaulx) as well as the Manufacturer's Title. Now
the motorsport version of the BMW 320si seeks to continue this unique
story of success.