What's the news?
BMW is planning a big model offensive in the coming months, with all models going into production in July and August.
Starting with the latest 3 Series, the production version of the M340i xDrive will arrive, delivering 374hp from its straight-six engine. Expect 7.5 litres/100km (37.7mpg) and 172g/km CO2, as well as 0-100km/h capability in 4.4 seconds. Beyond this, three models - the 320i, the 330i and the 330d - will now be offered with xDrive all-wheel drive, while a 330e plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will also appear. This teams a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with electric power, for numbers of 292hp, as low as 1.6 litres/100km (176.6mpg) and as little as 37g/km CO2, 0-100km/h in six seconds and an all-electric range of up to 66km. Alongside these additions, all Threes that aren't M Sports will be optionally available with M Sport suspension, while M Adaptive suspension will also be offered.
Moving up to the 5 Series, the M550i xDrive has been uprated from 462hp/650Nm to 530hp and 750Nm. No word on the performance upswing but official fuel consumption will be 9.9 litres/100km (28.5mpg) with CO2 at a minimum 225g/km. The 530e PHEV has an uprated battery, which means better EV range (up from 50km previously but no maximum quoted) and better eco-stats (bests of 1.6 litres/100km or 176.6mpg, with as little as 36g/km), while Laserlight with Selective Beam will be added to the options list for the M550i models and the M5.
A few series up the chain, the 8 Series gains a new model to go with the existing 840d and M850i duo. The 840i, available as a Coupe and a Convertible and either with or without xDrive (resulting in four 840i variants), delivers 340hp from a 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine. Fuel consumption ranges from 7.2-7.8 litres/100km (36.2-39.2mpg) across the board and CO2 sits between 164-178g/km. Buyers of the 8 Series will be able to specify M Sport seats to heighten the sporty interior ambience of the flagship car.
Changing from the main series of BMWs to the crossovers and roadsters, the X2 will come as standard from July 2019 with LED headlights and front foglamps, with five new (18- and 19-inch) light-alloy wheel designs and two fresh upholsteries added to the roster, as well as the M Sport braking system from the X2 M35i performance version. Satnav screens enlarge to 8.8 and 10.25 inches on all models. In terms of larger SUVs, there are more optional extras on the X3 and X4 lines, while the X5 gains two new models: the xDrive25d with 231hp/450Nm, and the xDrive45e PHEV, with 394hp. Finally, on the SUV front, the X7 will get new options and colours, as of August 2019.
Anything else?
For the performance BMW fan, the Z4 sDrive20i will be available with a six-speed manual gearbox as of July 2019, with an eight-speed auto an option. And both the M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible will be sold with the M Competition Package (various chassis and styling upgrades, plus 450hp output) as standard, these being run-out cars as this M4 nears the end of its life.