BMW 3 Series gets more athletic — and more exclusive — with the Sport Edition.

Only 300 units will be produced between June and September 2008 and the model is differentiated from the available M Sport versions of the 3 Series in a number of ways, while enabling a higher degree of personalisation.

Over and above a sporting suspension set-up, the M Sports Package featured as standard on this special model comprises BMW's M Aerodynamics Package with modified bumpers and side-sills, sports seats, an M leather steering wheel, foglamps (on four-cylinder models) and interior trim in aluminium.

Further standard features include brand-new 18-inch wheels running on 225/40R18 tyres at the front and 255/35R18 tyres at the rear. These radial rims measuring 8 and, respectively, 8.5 inches in width and proudly bear the BMW Motorsport logo coming, as they do, from BMW's FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) racing car.

To further buttress the model's character, the car features "Sport Edition" embossing on the centre of the front leather sport seats. Aluminium door entry sills feature "Sport Edition" lettering, while the "Extended Light Package" and a Hi-Fi Loudspeaker System are also included as standard.

Most significantly, Sport Edition variants are only available in three colours: Ruby Black Metallic and Stratus Grey Metallic, with only 125 versions of each colour available; and Crimson Red, which makes up the balance of the 300-car limited edition.

More diesel power

At the same time, the new Sport Edition arrives just in time to welcome more powerful BMW 3 Series diesel models to South Africa. Following on from the decision to no longer restrict power and torque on diesel models sold locally, thanks to the countrywide availability of cleaner diesel fuel and advances in lubrication technology, the BMW 320d and BMW 330d both feature more power and torque, and thus more performance, whilst consuming the same amount of fuel.

The BMW 330d now boasts 170kW of power at 4000rpm and 500Nm of torque between 1750rpm and 2750rpm, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Previous versions of the BMW 330d delivered 160kW and 480Nm, whilst acceleration from rest to 100km/h took 6.9 seconds with top speed pegged at 246km/h. Despite the increase in performance, overall fuel consumption remains unchanged at 6.5 litres per 100km.

Similarly, the BMW 320d now delivers 130kW at 4000rpm and 350Nm of torque at 2000rpm (compared with 125kW and 340Nm). Performance has improved significantly with the new derivative sprinting from 0 to 100km/h in just 7.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 230km/h; the previous version managed benchmark figures of 8.1 seconds and 227km/h. Fuel consumption is also unchanged at 5.5 litres per 100km.