Izah Azahari
Sole importer of BMW in Brunei Darussalam QAF Auto held its BMW Brunei Hari Raya Open House celebration yesterday at the QAF Auto BMW showroom in Beribi, along with the introduction of the new BMW 3 Series, the BMW 318i.
QAF Auto General Manager Alisa Khoo greeted the attendees.
With a refreshed design, an extensively modernised premium ambience, and clear advances in digitalisation, control and operation, and equipment, the new edition of the BMW 3 Series is setting out to write another chapter in the model range’s worldwide success story.
Targetted front and rear-end design updates shine an even brighter spotlight than ever on the sporting ability for which the BMW 3 Series is renowned. The BMW Operating System 8, including the BMW Curved Display, brings extra modernity to the interior. All variants of the new BMW 3 Series now come as standard with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission with gearshift paddles on the steering wheel and a newly designed selector lever.
With its elegantly sporty design and agile handling, the BMW 3 Series has provided a reference point for driving pleasure in the premium mid-size segment from day one. It also represents the core of the BMW brand.
With its structured surfaces, dynamic lines, and large air intakes, the front apron emphasises the sporty appearance of the new BMW 3 Series. The redesigned headlights and kidney grille also give the car a strong visual presence. The standard LED headlights are slimmer, with precise contours and daytime driving lights arranged in an inverted L shape to create a harmonious and modern look.
The restructured model range also reflects the focus on dynamism and modernity woven into the exterior design. The new BMW 3 Series already has a bold sporty appearance in the standard specification, a visual quality further emphasised by the now-standard M High-gloss Shadowline trim.
The stylistic dynamism of the new BMW 3 Series is further strengthened with the M Sport package. It brings new design features including a honeycomb pattern for the lower air intake, a new design for the front and rear aprons and new M light-alloy wheels in 18-inch format with mixed-size tyres. The interior of the new BMW 3 Series has been treated to a comprehensive update. The new interpretation of the brand-typical driver focus is embodied by the standard-fit BMW Curved Display. A 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches merge together into a single fully digital and high-resolution unit.
The cutting-edge cockpit design has progressive digitalisation at its heart and enables the number of buttons and controls to be significantly reduced in favour of touch and voice control.
The new BMW 318i has a four-cylinder petrol engine with an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head and an upgraded turbocharger system to optimise power delivery.
It has an output of 156 horsepower and links up with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard.
Its sporting character is reinforced by the likewise standard gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. The multi-sensory vehicle experience of BMW iDrive with the latest generation of BMW Operating System 8 introduced in the new BMW 3 Series leads the way into the digital future with robust connectivity, data processing capabilities, and intuitive interaction between the driver and vehicle.
At the heart of this are the BMW Curved Display and BMW Voice Command.
While inside the new BMW 3 Series, customers can use the BMW ID to individualise the user experience for smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
