BMW 3 Series Lands Among Car and Driver’s 10Best for 22nd Time

Peabody, 12/20/2012 / SubmitMyPR /

Earning a spot on Car and Driver magazine’s annual 10Best Cars list is an impressive feat, but holding a spot in the exclusive club for 22 years running is an accomplishment that only the BMW 3 Series has achieved. The luxury sport sedan kept up its streak in the recently released 10Best Cars list after a thorough redesign for the 2012 model year, showing that while the car continues to evolve, its ride remains as engaging as ever.

To be eligible for the Car and Driver 2013 10Best Cars list, vehicles had to either be new or significantly updated, a 2012 10Best winner or a model that was unavailable for testing for last year’s list. Nominees were also required to be on sale in January 2013 and priced at less than $80,000. Those cars were then put through their paces at the hands of Car and Driver editors, and after more than 15,000 combined miles of testing, the BMW 3 Series emerged once again as one of the 10Best Cars on the market.

“BMW’s commitment to building the finest luxury cars is clear when you look at the 3 Series’ 22-straight years of recognition on the 10Best Cars list,’’ said Marshal Cabot, general manager of BMW of Peabody, a BMW dealer in Massachusetts. ‘‘No other automaker or model can lay claim to such a continuously high level of excellence, and with the latest generation of the 3 Series, it appears that the Car and Driver streak could carry on for years to come.”

Car and Driver editors lauded the 2013 BMW 3 Series sedan for offering one of the best overall packages on the market. In addition to praising the model’s dynamic handling characteristics, the publication came away impressed with the comfort of the well-bolstered front seats and spacious back seats. Editors also noted that while the competition may be able to match the 3 Series in one or two dimensions, none have come so far as to match it overall.

As part of the redesign for the 2012 model year, BMW revised the outside of the 3 Series with an aggressive new front fascia, sharp creases down the flanks and a purposeful-looking rear end. Inside, the quality of materials was upgraded to complement a more driver-focused dashboard and a center console that now features a standard iDrive rotary controller.

Perhaps the most impactful changes to the latest BMW 3 Series are found in the engine bay, with standard models getting a new four-cylinder in place of the former inline six-cylinder. Direct injection and turbocharging allow the new engine to produce 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, both more than its larger predecessor, while still returning up to 34 mpg on the highway. Of course, performance-minded buyers can still upgrade to an inline-six, which churns out 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque.

“The key to BMW’s success has been its ability to adapt to the times without losing the inner core of what makes a BMW a BMW,’’ added Cabot. ‘‘The 2013 BMW 3 Series offers all the luxury amenities, refinement and performance that fans of the brand have come to expect, but it also reduces trips to the gas station. It’s an impressive achievement for sure, but not a surprising one coming from BMW.”

About BMW of Peabody:
Located minutes from downtown Boston on Route 114, BMW of Peabody takes pride in offering some of the world’s finest vehicles, backing up every new and used BMW sale with their expert, customer-focused sales and service staff. Recognized as a leading Greater Boston BMW dealer, BMW of Peabody is a five-time winner of the prestigious Center of Excellence Award and offers two BMW service centers to fit the schedules of its busy customers. See their full BMW inventory online at www.bmwpeabody.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bmwofpeabody, visit their showroom at 221 Andover Street in Peabody or call them at 978-538-9900.