"The station wagon that’s finally gorgeous enough, engaging enough to drive, and sufficiently
swell to lure folks out of those cumbersome utes." -Car and Driver
Specifications
323iT
Model Year: 2000
Engine: 2.5L Inline 6 (M52TUB25)
Transmission: 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-engined, Rear-wheel Drive
Horsepower: 170 hp @ 5500 rpms
Torque: 181 lb-ft @ 3500 rpms
Drag Coefficient: .33
Curb Weight: ~3400 lbs
(~200 lbs heavier than 323i sedan)
Weight Distribution: 47.9/ 52.1% (Rear Weight Bias!)
0-60: 7.4 seconds (Manual, Car and Driver)
8.8 (Automatic, Edmunds)
1/4 Mile: 15.7 @ 88 (Manual, Car and Driver)
16.7 @ 83.8 (Auto, Edmunds)
Top Speed: 132 (Redline)
325iT
Model Years: 2001-2005
Engine: 2.5L Inline 6 (M54B25)
Transmission: 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-engined, Rear-wheel Drive
Horsepower: 184 hp
Torque: 175lb-ft
Drag Coefficient: .33
0-60: 7.4 seconds (BMW)
325xiT
Model Years: 2001-2005
Engine: 2.5L Inline 6 (M54B25)
Transmission: 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-engined, All-wheel Drive
Horsepower: 184 hp
Torque: 175lb-ft
Drag Coefficient: .33
E46 M3 Touring?
Only one factory M3 Touring Prototype was
produced, and was only revealed in 2011. But tuning firms such as Rogue
Engineering have come close. The M3's S54 engine implanted, 340
hp through a 6-speed manual transmission transferred power to an M3 rear
axle (and a limited slip differential).
Rogue Engineering "M3 Touring"
Reviews (323iT)
Car and Driver:
"Highs: Typical BMW road manners, world-class braking, roomy rear seat, snappy styling."
"...we
think the performance of the 2.5-liter engine stacks up pretty well,
particularly when it’s allied with the standard five-speed manual
transmission, whose precise shifting we’ve extolled in every encounter."
"One
thing’s certain: If your notion of station wagons is still stuck in the
big bad barges of the Leave It to Beaver days, you’ve either been
hibernating for several decades or watching too many SUV commercials.
Station-wagon shame is gone, folks. Station wagons—at least some station
wagons; this station wagon, for sure—are cool."
"...we
think wagons make a lot more sense in most applications than do
sport-utes. They’re handier and better-looking, and they get better fuel
economy—remember fuel economy? And they’re more fun to drive."
"What
you might not expect, however, is how small a performance price you’ll
pay for the expanded cargo capacity. We were pleasantly surprised when
the wagon hauled mass to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, just 0.2 slower than the
sedan and 0.2 quicker than the factory projections."
"We think this $1700 [Sports] package is not only a must-have for this car, it’s also a bargain."
"Maybe
this is the one. The station wagon that’s finally gorgeous enough,
engaging enough to drive, and sufficiently swell to lure folks out of
those cumbersome utes. Compared with its X5 ute stable-mate, this wagon
offers 60 percent more cargo space and weighs about a third less."
The Auto Channel:
"Wagons have rarely been stylish, but the 323 is an exception."
The
sport suspension on my test car is firmer still, with ultra-low profile
high-speed rated tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. It is the perfect
enthusiast option, and balances sharp handling with civilized comfort.
"In many ways, an inline six-cylinder engine is the perfect engine, with excellent smoothness because of its design."
"CONCLUSIONS:
Have your cake and eat it too with the BMW 323i sport wagon. It offers
the space and versatility of a small SUV and the performance and
handling expected of a BMW sports sedan."
Edmunds First Drive
"Sport
wagons aren't about hauling the ubiquitous load of two-by-fours home
from Home Depot; they're about versatile cargo space with the handling
and performance of a sports car - a melding BMW has perfected."
"Once
the tachometer hits the two-grand mark, the low-emission, Double-VANOS
variable valve timing kicks in with a swelling rush of power to the rear
wheels -- all the way to redline."
"In
typical BMW fashion, the five-speed manual provided smooth and precise
shifts with the signature "tink" into each gate and gear ratios
perfectly mated to the engine's rpm band."
"Unlike
many compact wagons, the 323i is right at home carving canyons with
gusto...Press the DSC defeat button and the wagon will happily wag its
tail upon driver command."
"On highway and city streets, the wagon exhibited the customary smooth and docile manners one would expect from BMW."
Edmunds Full Test
"Automotive
stylists often seem to struggle with the shaping of wagons (1993 Toyota
Camry Wagon, anybody?), but BMW has done right here....The 323i Sport
Wagon looks like it was born with wagon DNA, not some hack job done by
ACME Wagon Company."
"Like
every other 3 Series car, the 323i Sport Wagon is perfectly capable of
both highway cruising and high-performance handling. The body structure
is quite rigid, and the cabin is very quiet at highway speeds. Thanks to
its rear-wheel drive and 47.8/52.2-percent front-and-rear weight bias,
the BMW is one of the most nimble compact wagons available. "
BMW North America Manager of Product Planning and Strategy, Rich Brekus:
Q: Where do you see the new Sportwagon fitting in among the explosion of new compact SUVs? Is there any demographic overlap?
A: The small SUVs and the SUV craze itself is more mainstream. The 3-Series wagon is a completely different kind of vehicle. It's truly about haying a great time driving and oh, by the way, bringing stuff. The Sportwagon buyer realizes that for the 90% of the time that they're not hauling anything, they don't want to be driving a truck. And they'll see the 3-Series wagon and know it's the perfect solution to their needs.
Photos
325iT non-Sport Package
No comments:
Post a Comment