The new BMW 320si Saloon - the world's best Touring Car technology comes to the road

Hot on the heels of Team BMW UK's Andy Priaulx claiming the FIA World Touring
Car Championship, BMW has announced details of a limited-edition version of BMW'
s 2006 World Touring Car - the new BMW 320si Saloon.

Designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations, only 500 BMW 320si's are
destined for the UK out of 2,600 cars worldwide. All feature a hand-built
four-cylinder engine made at BMW's engine plant at Hams Hall, near Coventry.
The high revving 2.0-litre unit delivers 173hp at 7,000rpm (before reaching its
red line at 7,300rpm) and 200Nm of torque at 4,250rpm.

This engine powers the BMW from zero to 62mph in 8.1 seconds and, if left
unchecked, onto a top speed of 140mph. Although inspired by the racetrack, the
car still delivers 31.7mpg on the combined cycle and conforms to the EU4
emissions regulations.

The limited production run of the BMW 320si starts in March 2006 and ends in
September 2006, with first customer deliveries expected in April 2006. Retail
pricing for the car is still to be confirmed, but expected to be approximately
£24,975.

Motorsport engineering
This high level of performance has been achieved using BMW's motorsport
technology. Compared with the 'standard' BMW 320i, the engine has been
significantly modified with larger induction and exhaust valves to increase
airflow. The cylinder bore has increased by 1mm to 85mm while the stroke has
been reduced by 2mm to 88mm.

The compression ratio of the engine has also been increased from 10.5:1 to
11.0:1, helping to boost power by 23hp over the 320i. Additionally, instead of
running with grey-cast-iron cylinder liners, the pistons run in special
aluminium-alloy liners in the cylinder block. Engineers have also decided to
remove BMW's patented VALVETRONIC induction system, reverting to a conventional
throttle due to the higher engine speeds demanded by a racing engine.

In a direct link with BMW's motorsport programmes, the cylinder head is cast at
BMW's Landshut foundry alongside Formula One engine blocks. Additionally, to
save approximately 10kgs of weight and lower the car's centre of gravity, the
cylinder head cover is made of carbon fibre.

All show and go
The new BMW 320si mates its high levels of performance with World Touring Car
looks. The specification of the 320si is based on the 3 Series M Sport model
that includes front and rear aerodynamic body styling, sports seats, sports
suspension and aluminium interior trim. Additionally, the BMW 320si features
Touring Car-style alloy wheels with BMW Motorsport motif. The front wheels are
8J x 18 fitted with 225/40 R18 tyres while at the rear the 8.5J x 18 wheels are
fitted with 255/35 R18 tyres. Finally, mirror caps finished in satin chrome
differentiate the car from a standard 3 Series.

FIA World Touring Car success
The announcement of the 320si limited-edition homologation special coincides
with BMW Team UK driver, Andy Priaulx, being crowned FIA World Touring Car
Champion at the final round of the championship in Macau, China on 20 November.

Priaulx, the first British FIA World Champion since Damon Hill in 1996, scored
a brace of second place finishes in his BMW 320si at the demanding street-based
Guia Circuit, a result which not only landed the 2005 world title but also
secured the coveted Manufacturers' World Championship for BMW.

Priaulx was understandably overjoyed with the result and commented: "It's
really just a strange feeling at the moment. Macau is so special. To qualify on
pole meant a lot but I felt that only ten per cent of the work was done. After
Race 1 was over and I learnt Dirk had finished tenth and Giovanardi did not
finish, it looked good for me. The pressure was still there though. It was
great during the race when I heard I was world champion and it has been
fantastic ever since!"

Priaulx won the title with a total of 101 points, with Dirk Muller of BMW Team
Deutschland in second with 86 points and Fabrizio Giovanardi driving an Alfa
Romeo in third place with 81 points. Priaulx scooped top honours courtesy of
consistent driving throughout the season, making it to the podium 11 times. BMW
won the manufacturers' title with a total of 273 points, 37 points more than
second placed Alfa Romeo.

Touring cars - a history of success
The new 2006 BMW 320si promises to be the latest in a long line of highly
successful saloon-based Touring cars. The FIA World Touring Car title was Andy'
s second championship win in a row after his success in the 2004 European
Touring Car Championship, again in a BMW 320i.

Historically, Touring Cars has been BMW's most successful racing category, with
success in 24 FIA European Championships as well as the only previous World
Touring Car Championship in 1987. The racing version of the BMW's E30 M3
remains the most successful Touring Car ever, having won every official touring
car championship in the world in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

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