BMW has added a 330e Touring G21 to its range of hybrid models for the first time, you’ll be able to choose from traditional or xDrive versions of both it and the 330e G20 saloon…
BMW has announced an expanded electrified 3 Series line-up bringing the total number available to four. Following the launch of the new G20 330e Saloon comes the new 330e Touring, the first time BMW has offered a hybrid Touring model – it will be available from summer 2020. Completing the four model line-up, both Saloon and Touring will be offered from this year with BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system, xDrive, as well as traditional rear-wheel drive.
The latest-generation BMW eDrive technology offers impressive efficiencies. The Saloon’s combined fuel consumption ranges from 176-201mpg, with combined power consumption at 15.0-14.8kWh/100km and CO2 emissions of 37-32g/km. The Touring returns a combined fuel consumption from 176mpg, combined power consumption from 15.7 kWh/100km, and combined CO2 emissions from 39g/km. The new 3 Series plug-in hybrid models can run on electrical power for a maximum range of between 34-36-miles (WLTP). Via a BMW i Wallbox an up to 80 percent charge can be reached within 2.4 hours, a 3.4 hour charge achieves full capacity. The high-voltage battery can also be charged via conventional household sockets, using the standard charging cable – taking 5.7 hours for a capacity charge.
The plug-in hybrid system of the new 330e Touring G21 also comprises a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, it puts out 184hp, along with an electric motor integrated in the 8-speed Steptronic transmission, which generates a peak output of 113hp. That affords the total system a power output of 252hp, that can be increased by an additional 40hp for up to 10-seconds to deliver 292hp in total – this XtraBoost is available in Sport mode. Torque is a decent 410lb ft.
All this helps the new 330e Touring G21 accelerate to 0-62mph in 6.1-seconds, maximum speed is 136mph. In Hybrid mode it can reach up to 68mph on electric power alone. When Electric mode is activated with the eDrive button, the vehicle can reach speeds up to 87mph drawing on the power of its eDrive alone. The 330e xDrive Saloon accelerates to 62mph in 5.8-seconds, reaching a top speed of 139mph while the 330e xDrive Touring completes the same sprint in 6.2-seconds, achieving a maximum speed of 133mph.
Notably, this is the first time that an electrified G21 BMW Touring model has been available. Thanks to the space-saving arrangement of the high-voltage battery under the rear seat, the 330e Touring’s luggage compartment is only marginally smaller than in its combustion counterpart (1420-litres).
Fitted as standard is active pedestrian protection, which translated means that the car emits a sound when travelling at speeds of up to 19mph in order to alert other road users to its presence. Virtually the entire range of optional extras are carried over from combustion to plugin hybrid 3 Series models. For those who need to use their car as a bit of a workhorse, note that the permissible towing capacity for all plug-in hybrid 3 Series will be 1500kg.
BMW has already sold half a million pure electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles worldwide, by the end of 2021 the BMW Group aims to have more than one million of its electrified vehicles on the road. That means that a quarter of the vehicles sold by the Group in Europe will be electrified by 2021, increasing to a third by 2025 and half by 2030. Remember that by 2023 the BMW Group plans to expand its range to include 25 electrified models, so the onslaught will continue. We’ll bring you our driving impressions of these latest additions in due course…
