BMW Previews the 330e and its 22 Miles of EV Range

2016 BMW 340i (Credit: © BMW)

BMW has just announced the updated 2016 3 Series, and now it is time for Bimmer to lay down some information on the new plug-in hybrid version of the 3 Series, the 330e.

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The 330e will apparently carry all of the same styling details as the rest of the 3 Series lineup, but that remains unconfirmed, as there are no images of this new hybrid yet. If this is true, than look for the updated headlights with one-piece LED halos, the updated rear bumper, and enlarged air intakes.

Under the hood is where the new 330e will distinguish itself from the rest of the 3er lineup. BMW didn’t mention what engine this new model will have, nor did it outline its hybrid system too well, but it did mention that it’ll produce around 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This output indicates that it’ll have either a small four-cylinder engine or possibly a three-cylinder.

Initial estimates from BMW claim that the 330e will hit 60 mph in 6.1 seconds and top out at 140 mph. What’s more, it can travel up to 22 miles in all-electric mode, giving commuters the option to use zero gasoline during their travels. This will be particularly popular in the zero-emission zones in Europe.

Unfortunately, BMW didn’t go beyond these limited details, but this is a nice start for a luxury automaker that has been a little behind the eight ball in terms of mass-produced hybrid cars.

Pricing and additional details will likely start rolling out in a few months, so stay tuned for all the juicy details.