The New BMW 3 Series And X1: We're Driving Them This Week

Published on October 7, 2015 in Spotlight on by Costa Mouzouris
2016 BMW X1

This week we're in Mexico's Copper Canyon to drive two new BMWs. The first, the 2016 BMW 340i, receives a mid-generation upgrade. 

The exterior has been lightly revised with new LED headlights and bumpers, the interior has been refreshed, the suspension reworked, and there's a new engine. 

The 320-horsepower, 3.0L turbo inline six is one of BMW's latest EfficientDynamics modular engines, which shares the same basic architecture as the new 2.0L four cylinder and the European 1.5L three cylinder engines.

An eight-speed automatic transfers power to the rear wheels, or to all wheels on the 340i xDrive, the latter which accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.

The BMW X1 is new from the ground up. It features new bodywork and a more spacious interior. 

Under the hood is a new 2.0L EfficientDynamics modular turbocharged four mated to an eight-speed automatic. The engine produces 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. 

Only one variation will be coming to Canada for 2016, the X1 xDrive28i. 

We will be driving both in Mexico's hilly backcountry and reporting on them shortly at The Car Guide.