BMW has announced a new entry into the 3-Series family, the 320i. This new entry level sedan slots in below the 328i and becomes the cheapest BMW available for sale today. Its base MSRP of $32,550 is a full $4,300 less than a base 328i. The new 320i is powered by BMW’s award winning 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder. In this application the little four-cylinder pumps out 180 horsepower and 200-lb/ft of torque. Buyers can choose a proper three-pedal manual with six forward gears or a high tech 8-speed automatic. The car is still rear wheel drive and features a near perfect 50/50 weight balance, so that 3-Series handling magic should still be in full effect. BMW claims that the car will hit the 0-60 run in 7.1 seconds and top speed has been limited to 130 mph. For buyers looking for a little more traction, the 320i will be available with the xDrive AWD system, but choosing four-wheel motivation means you only get the 8-speed auto. Preliminary fuel economy numbers for the 320i are pegged at 22 city and 34 highway for the manual, and 23 city 33 highway for the automatic. The 320i xDrive snags a 22 city/33 highway rating.



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