New Car Launches - BMW 320d Highline

Can one improve upon 'perfection'? Obviously, it's a little far- fetched idea and hence remains wishful thinking. But only on a more general level.

There are exceptions to the rule which make you do a double take with a Wow! And guess what? The blokes at BMW have done it. They should be credited with the doing the impossible - disproving the myth, and going several steps ahead with upgrading their model.

Do they have what I call the 'perfection' bug? Seems like it. Why on earth would they otherwise perk up a car which was already smashing in almost every respect? It was no secret that the previous BMW 320d was a car which was as hot as it could get. With a stellar fast and economical diesel engine and a cabin which was unbelievably comfortable and luxurious, they ruled the roost. The only drawback, if one could call it one, was its stiff ride quality. And guess what? The engineers at BMW have ganged up on it too.

The new BMW 320d Highline is the car which is going to be the next buzz word for the coming generations to get obsessed with and talk about in awe and amazement. It is an automobile which comes within a whisker of being labeled as 'perfect.' Having removed even the wee bit of a grievance of being a tad inflexible in its ride, it's time for their researchers to earn even more plaudits.

In appearance, the BMW 320d Highline looks ditto like its previous model, barring the new trademark alloy wheels. The interior s which was in a class of their own has been further enriched for you to ogle at the soft touch beige leather and wood trim paneling. In its new avatar, the inside resembles, to a large extent, the 325i and comes with idrive system which is located up in the centre console. The powered seats are as comfortable as ever before. On the flip side, the rear legroom is a bit cramped - thanks largely to the high transmission tunnel. The Highline has been given a boost in the features department as well. It now comes laden with xenon lamps, rear parking sensors, side window blinds and a menu button, simplifying the system, besides the standard features like ABS, airbags, traction control and climate control. Also in the pipeline in the new 320d is a sunroof/moonroof.

The BMW320d Highline under the hood carries an all new 1995cc 4 cylinder 2nd generation common rail diesel engine too, a marginally smoother than the previous unit, and operates at a pressure of 1600 bar. The multiple fuel injection system helps reduce noise level to a large extent. The horse power in the new unit gets increased by 14% and now stands at a very respectable 170bhp, while its maximum torque has gone upto 34kgm. The new engine is highly refined and doesn't run out of steam at high-speeds, and the torque is available from as low as 1750rpm and goes up till 4500rpm. It is a very fast car with a top speed of 216kmph, and the 0-100 dash has quickened by a second from its current timing of 8.6 seconds. What is interesting to note is the fact that the increment in power hasn't resulted in a lesser fuel economy, which stills sits pretty at 11.2kmpl in the city.

If I go to the extent of calling the new 320d is flawless, it won't be an exaggeration. Why isn't it a fine blend of perfect handling, stability, power and comfort?

Costing a whopping Rs 30,70, 000 lacs (ex showroom Delhi), it's more than value for one's moolah. What one gets in return for the extra 2% is a car which is more stable, luxuriously comfortable, and swifter with refined sophisticated features. Howzzat for a smart cool deal? A great bargain for sure!

Source: Full Throttle