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.