World debut at Paris Motor Show for
diesel-powered soft-top
BMW has announced an entirely new model variant that
will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. With the refinement of BMW diesel
engines currently unsurpassed, the time is ripe for the introduction of the
320Cd Convertible, a model that marries two sectors of the car market popular
with buyers in the UK. Statistics show more than a third of all BMW UK sales are
diesel, while a sixth of all BMW sales are Convertibles.
Powered by a 2.0-litre engine that develops 150bhp at
4,000rpm, torque is an impressive 330Nm at just 2,000rpm, with 295Nm of this
being developed at 1,500rpm, an engine speed only slightly above idle. It is
interesting to note that the engine surpasses the EU4 exhaust emissions standard
even without a particle filter.
Top speed for the 320Cd Convertible is 131mph and zero
to 62mph is dispatched in 9.7 seconds. The frugality of the common rail diesel
engine means fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 44.8mpg. Power is
transmitted to the road via a six-speed manual gearbox.
Mechanically very similar to the recently launched
320Cd
Coupe, the Convertible stands apart courtesy of changes to the engine management
unit, a final shorter drive and a modified exhaust system. The suspension
settings have also been adapted from the Coupe for use in the Convertible.
The new model will be offered in SE and Sport variants,
with standard equipment including ABS, six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control,
Park Distance Control, Cruise Control and BMW Business radio with single CD
player. Upgrading to Sport adds a host of other features as standard including M
Aerodynamic body styling, Sports seats, Sports suspension and 18-inch alloy
wheels.
BMW 320Cd performance
 |
Powered by
BMW's second generation common rail two-litre diesel engine, the 320Cd
reaches a top speed of 131 mph and achieves a sporty 0-62 mph figure of
9.7 seconds.
Its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine
delivers a class-leading maximum power output of 150 bhp. |
BMW's six-speed manual gearbox is offered as
standard, providing short and precise gear changes. A five-speed automatic
gearbox with Adaptive Gear Control (AGS) and Steptronic is also available as an
option. AGS learns a driver's style and adapts shift points accordingly. It also
recognises uphill and downhill gradients as well as bends and prevents the
transmission from shifting up in mid bend, retaining the correct transmission
ratio for accelerating cleanly away.
|
