BMW’s new 3 Series Touring has gone on sale in the UK, with prices starting at £35,505 and with a plug-in hybrid available for the first time next year. It has a load area offering a maximum capacity of 1,500 litres, or 500 litres when the rear seats are occupied.
Three trim levels are offered: SE, Sport and M Sport, while standard equipment includes a rain sensor, automatic headlight activation, Bluetooth and automatic three-zone climate control. There is also an electrically-operated tailgate and adaptive LED headlights.
A range of petrol and diesel engines are offered. The 318d is the most efficient with CO2 emissions from 118g/km, while the 320d emits 119g/km.
Both are matched with the latest-generation six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with an eight-speed automatic transmission available as an option.
All-wheel-drive system is standard on the range-topping BMW M340i xDrive Touring and available as an option on the 330d xDrive and 320d xDrive models.
The 330e PHEV will be available from next year. It is expected to have CO2 emissions from 42g/km and a total output of 292PS.
New Skoda Superb hybrid arrives in January
Skoda’s new plug-in hybrid version of its Superb upper-medium car, which is badged the iV, will arrive in the UK in three months’ time, and will be available with hatchback or estate bodystyles.
The iV will come with four equipment grades – SE Technology, SE L, Sportline Plus and Laurin & Klement, and has a conventional 1.4-litre petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor for a combined maximum output of 218hp.
Official CO2 emissions figures are just 35g/km for hatchback models and 38g/km for estates, while a pure electric driving range of up to 35 miles is claimed. Charging takes three hours and 30 minutes from a 3.6kW wall box.
All trim levels while come with Skoda’s new third-generation infotainment system, featuring an in-built SIM card for data connection and wireless connection for Smartlink and Apple Carplay, with real time traffic information and online support.
Prices for hatchback iVs are expected to be £31,970 for the SE Technology grade, £34,755 for the SE L, £38,490 for the Sportline Plus and £38,960 for Laurin & Klement. Estate versions have a £1,280 premium on top of the hatchback prices
Toyota C-HR goes hybrid only
Meanwhile, Toyota has announced that its facelifted C-HR SUV will go hybrid only following the decision to drop the conventional petrol model from the range.
There is now a second hybrid powertrain option, with a 2.0-litre petrol engine twinned with an electric motor to produce 185hp and official CO2 emissions of 92g/km.
The existing 1.8-litre, 124hp petrol hybrid, which has official CO2 emissions of 86g/km, is also still available, but the previously available conventional petrol engine has been dropped.
Exterior styling changes with the facelift include updated front and rear lights and a gloss black rear spoiler, while inside an updated multimedia system brings Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity.
The electric power steering system has been tweaked, with the aim of improving steering feel, and there’s also a new suspension design which Toyota claims means improved ride comfort.
Prices start from £25,625 for the entry-level Icon model. Company car drivers and fleet decision-makers can also choose from Design, Excel and Dynamic grades, all available with either the1.8 or new 2.0-litre hybrid powertrains. The range-topping ‘Orange Edition’ rounds off the line up.
Mazda3 diesel ended
Mazda has withdrawn from sale in the UK the diesel version of the 3 lower-medium car due to low customer demand.
The 1.8-litre, 116hp Skyactiv-D powerplant has now been removed from the model’s price list only months after it appeared in UK showrooms, although Mazda said that it was still planning to continue the development of diesel power for future applications.
Mazda is currently offering diesel engines in the UK in the Mazda6 upper-medium car and the CX-3 and CX-5 SUVs
The 3 is now available with a choice of two petrol engines – the 2.0-litre, 122hp Skyactiv-G, and the 2.0-litre, 180hp Skyactiv-X.
Meanwhile, Mazda has announced prices and specification details for its facelifted 2 supermini which goes on sale next month. The Mazda 2 comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, available with either 75hp or 90hp or with a mild hybrid system, in either manual or automatic guise.
Official combined fuel economy figures are 53.3mpg for manual cars, and 47.9mpg for the auto, while CO2 emissions are 95g/km for manual cars with 15in alloy wheels, 94g/km for cars with 16in alloys, and 118g/km for the automatic.
Four equipment grades will be available – SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport Nav and GT Sport Nav. Prices start at £15,795 for SE-L cars, £16,795 for SE-L Nav, £17,495 for Sport Nav and £18,295 for GT Sport Nav.
