BMW will give the latest 3 Series Compact, with a new British-built Valvetronic four-cylinder engine, the diesel X5 3.0d and the M3 with sequential M gearbox their world debuts at the Geneva International Motor Show next month.

A new flagship X5 4.6is, the M3 Convertible, revised M Coupé and the M Roadster powered by a new M3 engine will also be making their first European show appearance.

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All-new Compact has all-new UK-made engine

All go on sale later this year.


The new Compact will be available in two versions at launch: the 316ti, powered by the Valvetronic engine built at the BMW group’s recently opened engine plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham in England, and the 325ti, powered by the recently updated 192bhp straight six.


The 3.0d is the third of the US-built X5 SUVs to be introduced and is powered by a direct injection, common rail, straight six turbodiesel, shared with the 330d and 530d, developing 135 kW /184 bhp and 410 Nm/302 lb ft of torque.







M3 gets new F1-style sequential gearbox

As you’d expect for a luxury SUV aimed primarily at the U.S. market, the X5 3.0d is launched with a five-speed ‘Steptronic’ automatic transmission while the manual option – a must for Europe – follows only in mid 2002.

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BMW says it borrowed Formula One gearbox technology to produce a new high performance transmission for the M3.


Now in its second incarnation and said to be significantly improved over the previous version, the sequential M gearbox (SMG II) will be available as an option from the middle of 2001.


There is no clutch and gears are selected using paddles on the steering wheel, or by using the shift lever in the centre console.







X5 gets diesel option

The benefit of this system, BMW claims, is extremely fast and precise gear shifting with changes taking as little as 80 milliseconds.


It can also be driven in “self selecting” automatic mode.


The system incorporates Drivelogic, which adapts to suit the driver’s personal driving style, when using the automatic function. It has 11 programs, ranging from ‘balanced dynamic’ to ‘strictly sport’.


The M Coupe and M Roadster are now powered by a modified version of the latest BMW 3.2 litre, straight-six M3 engine.







M Coupé and Roadster have new 3.2-litre straight-six

With power output increased 4 bhp over the previous engine, both cars develop 325 bhp and reach 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds.


Maximum torque remains the same at 350 Nm or 258 lb ft but now comes in at 4,900 rpm. Maximum speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.


The M Roadster and M Coupé have been updated with interior styling changes and extra equipment and a tyre defect indicator system is now standard.