2019 BMW M340i revealed: 2018 Paris Motor Show

BMW has pulled the covers off the fresh version of what is arguably its most important range, the 3 Series.

With it, BMW has revealed a new ‘range-topper’, or at least until the M3 comes along. Instead of the 340i, BMW has announced the non-M 3 Series will be headed up by the 2019 BMW M340i xDrive. It’s the only new 3 Series model announced so far to feature six cylinders running petrol.

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2018 Paris Motor Show

It’s been treated to a new version of BMW’s 3.0-litre in-line sixer engine, now producing 275kW and 500Nm rather than the 240kW and 450Nm previously available in the 340i. As its badge suggests, this power is now transferred to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive AWD system.

BMW says the M340i xDrive will hit 100km/h from a standstill in just 4.4 seconds, where MOTOR only extracted that sprint from the previous rear-drive version in 5.51 seconds.

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BMW says the new M340i will be a proper performance car, rather than just a powerful cruiser, though the ‘M’ before its numerical designation was a little hint at that.\

“[Its 0-100km/h time] takes the BMW M Performance model into the reaches of the performance stratosphere inhabited by high-calibre sports cars,” BMW says.

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“The new BMW M Performance model will showcase the full dynamic potential of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan.

“A new six-cylinder in-line petrol engine, bespoke chassis tuning, xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive and the standard M Sport differential ensure performance attributes that will both impress and challenge the driver.”

Stay tuned for local spec and pricing, as we wait for word on the next M3.