This car is significant and that goes beyond the plain numbers that it generates as this would be the first locally produced “M” car in India. The made in India M340i signals a shift in the trends in regards to consumption of luxury cars in India. The interest and thirst for performance and sports cars is increasing in India and the best way to let the market expand is by giving the consumer more choice. The standard 3 Series or the 330i is quite a fast car by any yardstick but the M340i turns up the wick by several notches. It is much closer to the full blown M3/M4 rather than a hopped up 330i.
In short, the M340i is amongst the most exciting and also one of the best sports/performance cars that you can get for the price. That is significant praise but it is being lavished on this car for a reason. For starters the engine’s a peach as it makes 387hp from its straight six-cylinder turbo petrol engine. Then you get M-specific suspension technology and intelligent four-wheel drive (hence the xDrive in the name).
However, in plain words, the car will thrill you and goad you into exploring its limits-because it enjoys it. The engine loves to rev and goes like a bat out of hell with a 0-100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds. While doing so, you are also drenched in a rich myriad of sensations including that wonderful connected steering and its rich sound-track. The M340i sounds sweet and when provoked, it is properly loud too.
It is also about as quick as you want to be in a public road but even then, illegal numbers come up in a jiffy on the speedometer. For the money it can out drag some sports cars and cause an embarrassment to them in the corners too! The M specific suspension and the all-wheel drive system is brilliant as while there is a safety net, the car has a rear bias, hence you can slide it a bit but without disturbing the nearby scenery.
Your neighbour will also not mistake it for any ordinary 3 Series as the M340i is bursting with the same persona which exudes from a typical M car. The grille gets a special mesh kind of inserts plus there are contrast elements all over the front of the car. Then, you see further signs of this being “not just another 3 Series” with the rear spoiler and the 18-inch wheels along with those exhausts of course.
Inside, you get racy sport seats, an M-specific steering wheel and even the seat belts are special. There is also a different trim on offer while space is as good as a standard 3 Series along with generous equipment levels like gesture control and a three-zone climate control amongst other features.
Overall, the M340i is quite simply one of the best cars BMW has ever made as there are no trade-offs and the engine along with the dynamics is just brilliant. You really can have your cake and eat it too with this…
