What's all this about?
It's a really efficient BMW 3 Series that's also a bit sporty. Hence, it is called the 320d EfficientDynamics (ED) Sport.
How is it greener than a regular 320d?
The car is based on the recently announced 320d ED Plus model and has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine making 163hp and 400Nm. It can emit as little as 104g/km CO2 with 70.6mpg fuel economy, thanks to Active Air Flaps in the kidney grille and a lowered suspension set-up. You can have it as a saloon or Touring, and in six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic guises, making for four variants of 320d ED Sport.
Presumably, I want the manual saloon for the best green numbers?
Saloon, yes, as it's a bit better on fuel economy and CO2 emissions than the heavier Touring, but the automatic transmission is cleaner than the manual. On the four-door, you're looking at 104g/km vs. 108g/km and 70.6mpg against 68.9mpg. The auto is also faster, with 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds instead of 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 143mph, where the manual achieves a 'mere' 140mph.
How about the Touring?
The manual clocks in with 114g/km, 65.7mpg, 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 138mph. The automatic has the same maximum velocity, but improves the other data to 111g/km, 67.3mpg and 8.1 seconds.
What does all this mean for running costs?
Irrespective of gearbox, the saloon is in VED Band B (£0 year one, £20 annually thereafter) while the Touring is in Band C (£0/£30), and Benefit-in-Kind is 19 and 20 per cent respectively. Furthermore, thanks to a predicted residual value that is £350 stronger than the ED Plus, monthly payments on the ED Sport are just £3 more than the Plus.
Can you tell me what equipment I'll get and how much it'll cost?
The saloon is £30,985 and the Touring £32,285. They add £840 worth of kit to the ED Plus' specification, for only an additional £500 outlay. That includes 17-inch light alloy wheels, Business navigation, Dakota leather trim, a sports steering wheel, heated sports front seats and unique trim finishers. Options include 18- or 19-inch wheels (which will no doubt ruin the good CO2 and mpg work listed above) and many of the technology additions seen on the rest of the 3 Series range.
Matt Robinson - 20 Jul 2015