The M340i sings a proper M song in Sport Plus. The dials change from blue to a sportier, angrier red. The exhaust pipes blow away their butterflies and the engine clears its throat. That engine is an evolved B58 signature BMW in-line six-cylinder motor. Displacing 2,998 cc, it makes not 326, not 340, and not even 374, but a hefty 387 hp and 500 Nm — akin to the motor in the 2021 Toyota Supra sports car. That, coupled with its low weight of less than 1.7 tonnes, makes for some extremely sprightly performance.
An eight-speed fluid coupling from ZF sends power to the xDrive transfer case that splits it, rear-biased, to all the four wheels. The M340i xDrive, then, sits flat and reassuring at all times; strut front and multi-link rear, without any unnecessary electronic disturbances, doing a stellar job of keeping it planted over straights, lane changes, and bends. The vehicle data displays — including readouts for kW, Nm and G-force — make things more interesting, although I preferred keeping my eyes on the road ahead. The 340i incisively tackles changes in direction and puts down the power without fuss. There is lag evident in Eco Pro, at times, obviously, but, in Sport Plus, there isn’t even a hint. Torque peaks from 1,850 rpm but we’re well over 4,000 and pushing towards power peak. The rush towards the red-line post 6k is sweet and the engine note is intoxicating. It’s effortless up-slope and down and still has enough in reserve to blow past trundling heavy vehicles in the wrong lane.
A different sort of challenge soon surfaced. It has xDrive. Why not show it more of the “city”? Unpaved, far from beaten, gravel-stricken hillside in sight, I pointed the 3 towards a crest not really visible. Rocks and loose dirt did not make it bat an eyelid. The xDrive put down the torque dynamically where needed even as the engine growled parting with it. Even in the dirt, the M340i was sublime and not once did it get a belly rub from the untamed surface. Surprising? Maybe a little. But, eventually, it’s clear this 3 is ready for anything — city or highway.
The new BMW M340i xDrive does an impeccable job of condensing the extreme nature of the M3 and adding that to what a 335i could have been without M treatment. It starts off the M models for the 3 Series with the 480-hp M3 only available with a manual transmission and the 510-hp M3 Competition only getting a dual-clutch auto ‘box. The M340i xDrive is a perfect balance of proper M steering feel with new-age BMW comfort on the flawed road surface. Muffled thuds on some eye-sore potholes were all I heard and it sailed over all sorts of surfaces. It’s as fun and relaxing to drive at 20 km/h as it is at 120 km/h and beyond, where permissible. It can do the early morning track-day and head to the business hotel for that meeting a few hours later, in the same breath, albeit in a different drive mode.
Few cars compare to the M340i and its all-round nature. The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Sedan was one such rival, but they have since introduced a Coupé. Audi’s S4 and S5 Sportback aren’t here either. Jaguar’s XE only has two mid-range variants and Volvo’s S60 is missing a Polestar badge in the portfolio. The M340i xDrive won’t be cheap; expected to be about a couple of 10 lakh of rupees more than the 330i M Sport. However, if you want a sport-luxury sedan skimming the boundaries of sports car territory, this is it. It’s adrenaline and dopamine in precise quantities.
Need to Know – BMW M340i xDrive
Price: To be announced
Mechanicals:
Engine: 2,998 cc, in-line six, turbo-petrol
Max Power: 387 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Max Torque: 500 Nm @ 1,850-5,000 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed, automatic, all-wheel drive
Suspension: Double-joint strut front, five-link axle rear
Wheels/Tyres: 225/45 R18 front, 255/40 R18 rear
Weight: 1,680 kg
Performance:
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 4.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
Fuel Efficiency (km/l): 10 city, 14 highway, 11 overall
