While auto giant Mercedes-Benz has been critical of the blanket Delhi diesel ban, their rivals, BMW, have found a way around it. BMW will be re-introducing the '20i' petrol variants for their popular 3-Series and 5-Series executive saloons. Unlike the diesel variants that are assembled in India, the German automaker has chosen to import fully built units of the petrol variants.
The 320i that is priced at Rs 36.90 lakh for the base Prestige variant and Rs 42.70 lakh for the top-spec Luxury Line variant. Sadly, there isn't a fun-loving 330i on the cards just yet. In terms of features and looks, the petrol Bimmer is identical to its diesel counterpart. The top of the line variant comes loaded to the gills with features such as LED headlamps, an 8.8-inch screen for the 'iDrive' infotainment paired to a 205W sound system, a sunroof, heated wing mirrors, seventeen-inch alloy wheels and a whole lot more.
The 320i is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor that develops a healthy 184PS of power and 270Nm of torque. The motor is paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, that sends the power to the rear wheels. 0-100km/h is dealt with in just 7.3 seconds, just like the 320d diesel. The 3-Series goes up against rivals such as the Jaguar XE, Mercedes C-Class and the upcoming Audi A4. We think BMW have done a brilliant job with the pricing, undercutting its rivals substantially. Prices for the 520i haven't been announced yet, but we expect it to be priced at Rs 54 lakh, for the top-spec Luxury Line variant.
