Not a fan of the new M3? You are not alone. The big nostrils on the face certainly is not everyone’s cup of tea, but what if we told you there’s another “M” out there that’s nearly just as fast, but comes with a more palatable grille? Your answer is here – the BMW M340i xDrive, and it’s now available in Malaysia.
Underneath the hood, you’ll find a B58 three-cylinder inline-six engine that makes 387 hp and 500 Nm of torque, paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission – unfortunately no six-speed manual here, that’s reserved for the M3. Don’t let the lower output figure fool you though, because in the “real world”, the M340i is just 0.2 seconds shy of the M3 in the run to 100 km/h!
That’s not all – the M340i could even be faster than the M3 on shorter twisty circuits too in theory, thanks to its rear-biased xDrive all-wheel drive system, with an electronically-controlled differential to ensure optimum traction at each wheel. The xDrive system is not a standard equipment on the M3, but can be optioned in.
To stand out from the other 3 Series, the BMW M340i xDrive is fitted with a couple of variant-specific exterior touches, including a mesh-design grille, larger front side air intake slats, and dual trapezoidal exhaust exits at the rear. All of these, along with the wing mirrors, are painted in a Cerum Grey Metallic finish.
The “Baby M3” M340i also rides on 19-inch alloys on all four corners, and also comes with the BMW Laser Light headlights with high beam assist as standard in Malaysia.
Piqued your interest yet? The BMW M340i xDrive is now available in Malaysia, starting at RM402,354.15 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions that are in place until the end of the year. For the full updated price list of BMW models in Malaysia, click here.
