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BMW has slashed the price of its potent M140i range-topper as part of a wider upgrade to the baby Beemer range.
The 2018 M140i will wear a new $59,990 price tag – $4910 less than the pre-facelift model – when it arrives in showrooms this September.
BMW’s repositioning of its hot hatch puts it closer to the updated Volkswagen Golf R, which will be priced at $55,490 when it lands in August. That said, the M140i is the only rear-wheel drive six-cylinder in the segment and is virtually without a direct competitor. It boasts significantly more grunt than the R, with 250kW/500Nm on board compared to the Golf’s 213kW/380Nm.
Both variants gain little beyond new wheel and paint options and interior tweaks, with the headline addition being the iDrive6 infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen as found in the BMW 5 Series.
Performance and handling is untouched in both cars, with the M140i’s outputs remaining the same, from its 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six. Also carried over is the eight-speed automatic transmission and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.6secs.
The upgrade resulted in more changes at the bottom end of the range where prices have increased by around $2000 for the entry level 118i and its 118d diesel counterpart, now priced at $39,990 and $43,990 respectively. The mid-spec 120i also goes up, by $3000, to $45,990.
These three models gain the iDrive6 infotainment but with a smaller screen. The 120i gets LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels.
There is also a wider range of interior trim finishes including Pearl Chrome, while the Dakota leather upholstery, which is standard in the M140i, can now be ordered in a fine Cognac finish.
Two new premium exterior colours have been added to palette including Sunset Orange metallic and Seaside Blue for the non M Sport-equipped variants.
