Malaysia’s top drift drivers will aim to fly the national flag high at the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2012, presented by Canon, when the event kicks off the first ever 36BOL Nations Cup this weekend, led by the inaugural Formula Drift Asian champion in 2010, Tengku Djan Ley at Speed City, Kuala Lumpur.

Unlike traditional Formula Drift tandem battles, the 36BOL Nations Cup focuses on teamwork and coordination where a pair of drivers from each country puts together the two best tandem runs in unison. The team with the most stylish run wins.

The return of Tengku Djan Ley (middle) will be sure to excite Drift fans!

Making his comeback from a one-year hiatus, Djan and his compatriots have the perfect platform to give the local fans something to cheer for that will see Malaysia’s best pair of drivers facing off against top Formula Drift teams at the 36BOL Nations Cup, from established countries such as Japan and Thailand, as well as up-and-coming sides Indonesia and Singapore.

Another elite ensemble of top international drivers are expected to compete at the fourth edition of the event on 19-20 May, and Malaysia will have 12 drivers donning the national colours at the first leg of the series this year, such as Ivan Lau from Tayaria Drift Team and compatriot Tan Tat Wei from team Goodyear Malaysia.

Formula Drift fans can also expect an intriguing battle brewing between the drivers. Fan favourites will look forward to seeing last year’s Achilles Asian Drift Series Champion and Japanese defending champion Daigo Saito from Achilles Drift Team against local hero Djan. The star-studded field will also include drift legend Manabu ‘Max’ Orido, a D1GP driver and Japanese GT Championship winner, a fan favourite for his style and individuality. Formula Drift USA star Robbie Nishida will also be returning for the 2012 season fresh from the USA series.

“We are delighted to have such a high calibre of world-class drivers at the season’s curtain raiser in Kuala Lumpur at a brand new venue in Speed City, Kuala Lumpur. We are also thrilled to launch a new event in the 36BOL Nations Cup that will add a new dimension to the Series and get local Formula Drift fans behind their best drivers. Nothing brings our patriotism better when nations square off against one another at a competitive level,” said Harvey Davis, Vice President, Event Management Group, ESPN STAR Sports.

Tengku Djan Ley said, “There’s always a rivalry between drivers because we want to do our best against each other. That said, the 36BOL Nations Cup is a wonderful concept and we want to show how great teamwork and solidarity can bring Malaysian drivers and fans together. It will also give fans an entertaining new spin to the sport, much like an Olympic sport like synchronised diving or swimming.”

From left : Daigo Saito, Robbie Nichida, Manabu Orido and Saranon Pornpatanarak

Daigo Saito said, “I’m happy to be back in Kuala Lumpur, and I’ve been very fortunate here having competed against the best and still coming out on top. I have a lot of fans here especially over the last two years and that has only encouraged me to give my best again. I’ve not done a tandem in Asia and I’m eager to partner Robbie to give the fans here a great show.”

President Director of PT. Multistrada Arah Sarana, Tbk, Pieter Tanuri said,  “Achilles is pleased to continue its association with this thrilling event that continues to push the limits of performance, and the new Nations Cup certainly takes the competitive spirit up a notch. The new venue and track will offer a very technically challenging test for all drivers, and we hope to encourage a high-level of international competition for the drivers and a great show for fans.”

The Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia, presented by Canon has become a highlight on the sporting calendar, attracting regional interest and talent, as well as world-class drivers hailing from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Australia. Fans in Malaysia can expect a thrilling experience as top-class drivers burn up the course two-at-a-time, often only inches apart, featuring aggressive side-by-side action, nail-biting power slides and spectacular drifting along a series of tight corners as powerful engines roar and tires bellow smoke.

Tickets for the Achilles Formula Drift Malaysia 2012, presented by Canon are available from Ticket Pro or Hotline 03 7880 7999. For more information, log on to the official Formula Drift website.

ESPN STAR Sports is the official broadcaster for the event, and the coverage will be aired across its networks, covering 24 countries to a cumulative reach of more than 300 million viewers in Asia.

Naza Italia Sdn Bhd has taken the wraps off the new Ferrari 485 Spider today at the NAZA Italia showroom in Petaling Jaya. This latest addition to the Ferrari family in Malaysia offers the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance but in a refined open-top configuration. Equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable aluminium hard top, the 458 Spider is the world’s first sports car with this lay-out!

Present to officiate the launch were YB. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Bin Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry and Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of NAZA Group of Companies.

“We are delighted to introduce the 458 Spider as the latest addition to NAZA Italia’s stable. As done so through the last 4 years of representing the brand in Malaysia, we will not waiver in our pursuit to provide Ferrari enthusiasts with the best of what Ferrari has to offer whilst also ensuring that we enhance the Ferrari lifestyle for our customers via various programs and exclusive activities organized specifically for them,” said Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of NAZA Group of Companies.

The 458 Spider’s innovative new hard-top is not only 25 kg lighter than a traditional folding soft-top, but is also quieter and thermally more efficient when raised. Aside from taking just 14 seconds to open or close (Check out the video below to see the roof in action), the hard-top was engineered to occupy a very small space when stored so that the designers were able to include a generous rear bench for luggage behind the two seats. Fully integrated into the styling of the car, the hard-top was designed to fit neatly ahead of the engine bay without compromising aerodynamics or the performance of the car.

The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s 570 CV 4,499 cc V8, which was named International Engine of the Year 2011 for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement. This is coupled with Ferrari’s class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission which delivers 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 320 km/h.

The rear windscreen was designed to double as an effective wind-stop to optimise the flow of air to the engine intakes and the clutch and gear-box oil radiators. The 458 Spider features a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop which opens to a height that guarantees efficient aerodynamics, reducing buffeting in the cockpit and enabling normal conversation to be held even at speeds over 200 km/h.

The all-aluminium chassis incorporates new alloys and castings, also adopted on the coupé, which ensure the 458 Spider already conforms to 2020 safety legislation. New technical solutions adopted for the chassis guarantee identical levels of structural rigidity with the roof up or down. The result is a car that is truly exciting to drive, blending extreme performance with the responsiveness that has always characterised Ferrari’s open-top berlinettas.

Its category-topping performance aside, the new car also boasts class-leading fuel consumption and emissions levels. Thanks to the HELE (High Emotion Low Emission) system, in fact, fuel consumption on the combined urban cycle stands at 11.8 l/100 km with CO2 emissions of 275 g/km.

In conjunction with the Malaysian debut of the 458 Spider, Naza Italia has introduced the Tailor-Made program to Malaysia, an exclusive new personalisation program developed specifically for clients wishing to make their Ferrari more distinct through specification that is a clear expression of their own unique personality and taste.

The Tailor-Made program continues a longstanding Maranello tradition which began in the 1950s and 60s, a time when clients personalised their cars as a matter of course and enjoyed huge freedom when it came to materials, colours and finish. The result was genuinely unique cars tailored to suit the desires of each individual owner. That prestigious past has now been revived through a program that permits owners to specify every last detail of their Ferrari, from the exterior livery colour to the cabin trim

The program which features styling inspired by unique classic Ferraris and motor racing, is available in three innovative collections – Classica, Scuderia and Inedita – specially conceived by Ferrari’s styling centre.

In creating a truly bespoke car, clients will be assisted by their own Personal Designer throughout the decision-making process, right up until delivery.

Isham Ariff and Andrea Baldi posing next to the Lamborghini Gallardo in solid white (Bianco Monocerus)

Supercar manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. recently announced that they will produce unique V10 model exclusively for the Malaysian market called the Lamborghini Gallardo MLE (Malaysia Limited Edition).

The official Malaysian importer for Lamborghini cars, Eminent Century Sdn Bhd, together with its sole dealer, JH Italia Sdn Bhd, recently unveiled the Gallardo MLE to selected guests and members of the media.

Isham Ariff and Andrea Baldi unveiling the Lamborghini Gallardo MLE

The V10 powered Gallardo MLE is the result of a year long collaboration between Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur and Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. It will have a production run of only 20 cars and is only available in the Malaysian market. It is anticipated that this particular Gallardo will be highly sought-after sports car among enthusiasts and collectors who want a Lamborghini that is distinct from the company’s usual line-up.

Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur Chairman Chut Nyak Isham Bin Nyak Ariff said at the launch that the limited edition Gallardo model is a testament to Automobili Lamborghini’s commitment to the Malaysian market and its Malaysian importer and dealer.

He adds that after much feedback from customers and numerous discussions with the factory, it was finally decided that the MLE will be “a Gallardo that has the exciting exterior attributes of the Superleggera 570-4 but with the interior comforts of the standard Gallardo”.

The MLE uses the Gallardo LP550-2 as its base as this chassis setup gives a more involved experience and added agility due to the 30kg weight reductions. The 550hp 5.2 litre V10 engine is mated to the highly responsive E-gear transmission.

Unique to the Gallardo MLE is the incorporation of the exciting Superleggera body kit comprising of an aggressive front bumper, carbon side skirts, titanium exhaust tips and a carbon-fibre rear diffuser. The bespoke interior is a luxurious combination of both smooth leather and alcantara.

Available in three colours, Bianco Monocerus (solid white), Verde Ithaca (pearl green) and Arancio Borealis (pearl orange), the Gallardo MLE is priced at RM 868,000 and comes with 3 years factory warranty.

Sime Darby Auto Hyundai recently officiated their new 3S centre in Prai in conjunction with Mother’s Day celebration with new Hyundai car owners.

The opening of this new 3S centre was officiated by Head of Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters Kim Hoo-Keun, with the signing of a plaque.

According to Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd Managing Director Lau Yit Mun, it was necessary to move to a bigger facility in Prai to cope with the increasing number of Hyundai vehicles. Since 2007, 1,648 units of Hyundai vehicles have been registered in Prai and this number is expected to increase with the recent introduction of the MD Elantra in April.

Sime Darby Auto Hyundai invested about RM6 million to upgrade the centre with a total built up of over 17,483 sq ft in Jalan Baru, Prai. The centre now have spray-painting facility with 6 service bays that can be expanded to 12 bays when demand increases.

Apart from the regular 3S services, Sime Darby Auto Hyundai Prai also offers quick service, 24-hour key drop service and shuttle service to Megamall Pinang for customers who would like to spend time there while waiting for their vehicles to be serviced. It also carries the same features as all Hyundai 3S centres, which includes a premium Wi Fi lounge and free flow of beverages. It serves neighbouring areas of Bukit Mertajam, Simpang Ampat, Nibong Tebal, Jawi and Butterworth.

This new centre is in compliance with the Hyundai Dealer Enhancement Programme (DEP). The DEP is introduced by HMC to reinforce Hyundai’s brand presence by aligning it with Hyundai’s global corporate image.

Sime Darby Auto Hyundai celebrated Mother’s Day by giving them a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a RM300 dining coupon at a 5-star hotel during the event.

“At Hyundai, we are constantly looking at ways to improve our services so that our customers will enjoy the ownership experience. We would also like our customers to feel they are a part of the Hyundai family. Their experience of the car is important to us and we want to make sure they enjoy every moment of their car from the moment they purchase it,” said Mr Lau.

This 3S centre is situated at Wisma EMC, No 972, Jalan Baru, 13700 Prai, Penang Customers who would like to find out more about the services offered by this 3S centre can call (04) 399 7788 (Service) and (04) 399 3988 (Sales).

(L to R) Director Of Chuan Seng Auto Services Sdn Bhd Ho Ee Ping, Managing Director Of Chuan Seng Auto Services Sdn Bhd Ng Cheng Chuan, Hyundai Motor Company Head of Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters Kim Hoo-Keun, and Managing Director of Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd Lau Yit Mun.

Hyundai dealer Chuan Seng Auto Services Sdn Bhd has recently upgraded their facility to a new 3S centre to better serve the community in the northern region of Perak. The new centre was officiated by Hyundai Motor Company Head of Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters Kim Hoo-Keun.

Chuan Seng Auto Services has been a Hyundai 2S dealership for the past 10 years, providing excellent after sales service in Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Selama, Gerik, Pantai Remis and Parit Buntar areas.

Signing of the Plaque by Hyundai Motor Company Head of Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters Kim Hoo-Keun

“I am confident of the business prospects of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia. Hyundai has improved tremendously on design, technology and quality of the car that it produced and also the innovative marketing strategy which resulted in the enhancement of brand perception and value in Malaysia. That is why we are confident in the Hyundai brand and invested RM3.9 million in this new 3S outlet,” said Director of Chuan Seng Auto Services Ng Cheng Chuan.

“Hyundai Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd is on target to achieving its 22 3S centres by 2012. Expanding our 3S centres is important in maintaining excellent service quality for all Hyundai vehicle owners. With new thinking, new possibilities, we are also looking beyond just offering a regular car service. We want our customers to enjoy Hyundai ownership experience and be emotionally attached to the brand,” said Managing Director of Hyundai Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd Lau Yit Mun.

This 3S centre, which covers 15,000 sq ft of built-up area, is also in compliance with the Hyundai Dealer Enhancement Programme (DEP). The DEP was introduced by Hyundai Motor Company to reinforce brand presence by aligning it with global corporate image. The service centre is built with 7 service bays and able to accommodate approximately 21 throughputs in a day.

This 3S centre is situated at Lot10288 & 23834, Jalan Simpang, 34000 Taiping, Perak. Customers who would like to find out more about the services offered by this 3S centre can call (05) 8475 225.  The sales showroom opens daily from 9 am to 7 pm, except Sundays (10 am to 4 pm) while the service centre opens daily from 9 am to 6 pm, except Sundays.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) has announced the winner for its third round of the ‘Test Drive & Win’ campaign, Normizah Binti Omar. She walked away with a Nissan Teana that is worth RM141,015.30 during the draw session.

“I was looking for the best pick-up to support my own fishing centre in Johor Bahru. I visited the ETCM showroom and soon after learnt about the ‘Test Drive & Win’ contest. Never had I expect to win anything but today, it’s just unbelievable!” said Normizah cheekily, who purchased a Nissan Navara last year.

The 37 year-old Johorean added that the brand new Navara has brought so much convenience to her business and family. Having won the Nissan Teana would definitely make her an even more proud Nissan owner as she celebrates her 10th anniversary in business venture.

‘Test Drive & Win’ campaign was first introduced in April 2011. The first two rounds were concluded in last July and November respectively. This campaign was running on a high note of success that sees overwhelming response from the general public. The third round was opened to those who have bought or test driven any of the Nissan vehicles from 1st December 2011 until 31st March 2012.

For this round, the winner stood a chance to win a Nissan Teana, the multiple award-winning luxury sedan that wears a modern styling with impressive ride or a Nissan 370Z, a high performance rear-wheel-drive two-seat coupe as prize car.

The first round winner was Dr. Aida Adlina Binti Anuar, a Seremban doctor who won a Nissan Grand Livina while the second round winner was Tengku Norul Karlina Binti Tengku Yunus from Kuala Lumpur, won a Nissan Sylphy.

“The campaign was incredibly successful and we have gained so much support from our loyal fans over the time. The number of contest entry has increased tremendously especially in the third draw. But of course, our supporters have played a vital role in ETCM’s growth. We feel really honoured and will definitely bring more excitements to benefit everyone in near future. Thank you once again.” said Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of ETCM, during the prize presentation ceremony.

The Shell Helix ‘Get Your Heart Racing’ roadshow will start tomorrow, 17 to 20 May 2012, at The Curve’s Fashion Walk, and from 25 to 29 May 2012, at Mid Valley Megamall’s South Court. The roadshow starts at 10.00 am till 9.00 pm daily during those dates.

The highlight of both roadshows is the Shell Helix Kinect Challenge featuring the ‘Fruit Ninja’ interactive video game, where participants have to slice and chop digital fruits that pop up on screen with their hand and leg. Those who manage to get the highest scores will win attractive prizes.

The Shell Helix team (back) with the top three winners of the Shell Helix Kinect Challenge in Johor Bahru (from left) Aminul Bakhtar, Loh Kee Chuan and Asrul Adam

The first prize is a Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect worth RM1,700, the second prize is a Sony PSP Go mobile gaming unit worth RM800 while the third prize is a Steelseries PC gaming headphone worth RM500.

The Shell Helix Kinect Challenge is open to all members of the public and no purchase is necessary to participate.  Aside from the challenge, visitors to the roadshows can also try out the Shell Ferrari F1 simulator and other fun games to win Shell Helix premiums and cash vouchers.

For the main ‘Get Your Heart Racing’ roadshow contest, five lucky Malaysians will win an all-expense paid VIP trip to Italy worth more than RM20,000 each in this promotion. The contest end on 31 May 2012, and is open to everyone who purchase a four-litre pack of any variant of Shell Helix motor oil.

Fifteen finalists will take part in the Shell Helix Finale Challenge in July but only five lucky winners will get a trip of a lifetime, which includes a visit to Maranello, shopping in Milan and attend the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September.

Clear the table of the highest number of black sludge balls within a minute and win

According to Ms Seow Lee Ming, Cluster Marketing Manager, Shell Lubricants SEA-South, the Shell Helix Global Promotion had become an annual event with its interactive format and spectacular prizes.

For more information on the new Shell Helix range of products and the Shell Helix “Get Your Heart Racing” contest, please visit www.shell.com.my or visit your nearest Shell station or authorised workshop.

Amirul Azim, the fifth winner of the “My Proton Makeover” program, recently received his newly refurbished 11-year old Proton Satria, which was handed over by Proton’s Director of Group Marketing, Branding & Motorsports, John D. Chacko, and Head of Engineering at R3 unit, Proton Motorsports Division, Tengku Djan Ley bin Tengku Mahaleel at Proton’s Centre of Excellence.

As part of Proton’s “Committed to Be Better” initiative, the programme’s aim was to reward the national automotive manufacturer’s faithful customers with a unique car makeover.

“I am sure many Malaysians have witnessed the prowess of Proton’s Motorsports Division at the recent Power of One event. Our commitment to being better does not end there and we want to continue to let our long standing customers know that our strength as a brand comes as a result of their loyalty. For that, we want to reward them and show our appreciation for their support,” said Chacko. “Amirul’s love for his Satria and faith in the Proton brand is clear to us, and I am very happy that we are giving his car more years on the road,” he added.

Having owned the one car throughout his life, Petaling Jaya-born Amirul, who works for an IT management company, described his relationship with the Satria as one that has matured over the years. From his bachelor days, subsequently into marriage and now as a father of two, Amirul’s Satria has seen many miles with his daily commute to Cyberjaya and regular trips to Kuantan to visit his parents. He attests to being a very proud Proton owner and an avid car collector, albeit on a smaller scale, with a fondness for Hot Wheels die-cast toy cars.

In relating the work on the Proton Satria, Tengku Djan Ley of the R3 unit was very pleased with the results achieved by the team.

“When he handed his car over to us, Amirul expressed his admiration for Proton and the work done by the R3 team. He mentioned his appreciation towards the Proton Satria Neo R3, so we decided to give his car a Fire Red body colour, along with a Satria GTI body kit and a limited edition R3 race splitter,” said Tengku Djan.

Elaborating further, Tengku Djan said that Amirul expressed his joy for fast driving, as well as his long-distance commuting. As such, in overhauling the car’s engine, tweaks were made to adjust to Amirul’s driving habits to enhance overall performance of his well-loved Satria. To ensure that the car is able to handle the added power, a coil-over system was installed to improve its handling, with the rear brakes being upgraded from drums to discs, giving the Satria better stopping power.

“With regards to the aesthetics, we gave the car’s interior a matching red theme, similar to that of the Satria Neo R3. Topping it off, we opted to give Amirul a set of 15-inch wheels, so that the acceleration of his 1.3 litre car will not be compromised. This is definitely an impressive package presented by the R3 team, not just with regards to performance and drivability, but also in its styling,” said Tengku Djan.

The car handover was a moment to remember for Amirul, who profusely thanked the R3 team during the ceremony. “This unforgettable gift from Proton will forever be etched in my heart. The generosity, time and effort that Proton has given to my car and to me are just immeasurable.”

BMW recently revealed their second generation 3 door hatchback 1 Series line-up and introduced the series flagship, the new M135i.

The new 1 series is 85 mm longer, 17 mm wider, 30 mm longer and tracks are extended by 51 mm at the front and 72 mm at the rear, when compared to the first generation 1 Series. This increased size gave 21 mm more legroom and boot size extended from 330 litres to 360 litres. With the rear seats folded down, cargo space in this 3 door hatchback is a large 1200 litres.

The new 3-door 1 Series looks aggressive with dynamically stretched side line, wide doors with frameless windows, side window flowing seamlessly into the B pillar and retracted side window, contoured side panels with distinctive accentuation of the rear wheel arches, side sill line extending to the front, resulting in a silhouette that is unique.

The new 1 Series will be available in Sport Line, Urban Line and M Sport Package each offering exclusive design and equipment features as an alternative to the basic variant. The new M135i, however, differentiates from its standard three-door 1-series with an aggressively styled bodykit.

Developed in-house at BMW’s M division, it has a deep front bumper with larger air ducts for increased engine cooling, chunkier side sills, nicer mirror housings, spoilers and a reworked rear bumper with blackened lower section with two chrome tailpipes.

The new 1 Series engine variants, both petrol and diesel, will feature BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology. For petrol engine, the new entry level version is the 114i with 102 hp, 116i with 136 hp, 118i with 170 hp and 125i with 218 hp. For diesel engines, there’s the 116d with 116 hp, 118d with 143 hp, 120d with 184 hp and the 125d with 218 hp. The M135i, however, is powered by an M Performance petrol engine, a 3-litre, in-line six-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 320 hp.

All engine variants is coupled with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic rear wheel drive transmission. The new M135i, however, will feature for the first time on this series, as an option, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive transmission.

Also standard on all new 1 Series is the BMW EfficientDynamics that features brake energy regeneration, electromechanical power steering, automatic Start/Stop function and ECO PRO mode. The new M135i, however, rides on an upgraded chassis with MacPherson struts up front and a five-link system at the rear. It’s also equipped with stiffer springs, dampers and bushes to give an aggressive lower ride height.

The M135i comes standard with double five-spoke 18-inch wheels, 7.5 inches wide at the front and 8.0 inches at the rear, wrapped with 225/40 and 245/35 tyres. The brakes have been upgraded to a 340mm ventilated discs at the front and 345mm ventilated discs at the rear  equipped with newly developed 4-piston calipers at the front and 2-piston calipers at the rear.

The new M135i is said to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 250 kn/h.

BMW recently unveiled the new generation F31 Touring, also known as the 3 Series Sports Wagon in the U.S., that obviously offers a little more cargo space.

Compared to the previous touring model, the new sports wagon is a slightly larger car with cargo space increased from 460 to 495 litres. The rear seats are divided into sections that can be folded individually and when all three are down, the sports wagon cargo capacity is a whopping 1500 litres.

Like the previous sports wagon, the rear window that can open up independently from the the tailgate, is again featured on the new F31 Touring. The window can be unlocked electrically with a button on the rear wiper arm and opens manually. This makes for easier loading and unloading of smaller items when space is limited.

Unlike all the older touring models, the new F31 Touring will be fitted with a power tailgate. A first for the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon. Access to the boot space is at a touch of a button, either on the remote key or from inside the car. A hands-free opening tailgate function is available if Comfort Access option is ordered. This means that if your hands are full, the tailgate will automatically open when you place a foot under the rear bumper.

The wagon’s athletic overall impression is characterised by a steeply raked D-pillars, angled rear window and wedge-shaped geometry of the window surfaces. The roof, which slopes downwards slightly to the back, is extended visually by a spoiler. There is also a “Hofmeister kink” at the foot of the D-pillar to portray a sporty look.

The rear is said to be elegant with modern practicality as the horizontal lines and L-shaped lights accentuate the flared fenders and wider track. Two integrated LED bars allow a slim light design at the outer edges portrays hunkered-down stance. The large tailgate opening and low sill make loading and unloading bulky items easier.

In the boot area, there are various nets, straps and tie-downs to help secure cargo. There’s also a storage tray and a stowage compartment to accommodate smaller items. The luggage compartment cover can be stowed away under the load compartment floor, allowing it to be kept in the car even when not in use. Also standard is a separate partition net, which can be employed in a variety of ways even when the rear seats are folded down. A pair of coat hooks and an addition 12-volt outlet add an extra measure of flexibility.

In addition to the flexibility and utility offered by the interior of the new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon, other features unique to this model includes roof-rails to accommodate storage racks for bicycles and skis to cargo boxes. It will also be available with a full glass panoramic sunroof.

Reversing and parking are easier with rear view camera with Top View which provide a sort of bird’s-eye view. The BMW Parking Assistant is another convenience enhancing system that takes charge of maneuvering into parking spaces. This makes parallel-parking much easier.

The new 3 Series Sports Wagon will be available in various trim and equipment variants – the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. Each presents its own individual take on the character of the Sports wagon, with exclusive, high-quality trim and material combinations. For the enthusiast who wants more, the M Sport Line will also be offered.