BMW has announced that it will indeed be bringing its new, 2013 BMW 3 Series Sport Wagon to America. It’s a promising bit of news for fans of the BMW wagon, which offers more versatility than the 3 Series sedan, but with better drivability than its BMW crossover cousins like the X3 and coming X1. But if you want a new 3 wagon, you’re going to have to wait a year to get one.
BMW isn’t offering specifics yet, but expect the American market 3 Series Sport Wagon to come with the same engines and options as the new 2012 3 Series sedan we’ve tested, with the key difference being the additional rear passenger and cargo room (about 10 percent more than the outgoing wagon) the 3 Series wagon offers. As is the case with the new 3 sedan, the wagon’s overall dimensions have grown slightly, its exterior and interior design have been revamped, and it is slightly lighter and more efficient.
As for powertrains, the base 2013 3 Series wagon for the U.S. should be available with BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four that outputs 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque in the sedan. The much lauded N55 3.0-liter turbo-six with 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft in the 335i sedan should also power wagon version. Transmission options will continue to be the six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic.
The new 330d version of the wagon is powered by what BMW says is an optimized and more efficient version of its 3.0-liter I-6 diesel tuned to about 258 hp. The wagon will also be available elsewhere in the world with BMW’s 2.0-liter diesel four. We suspect a version of the 3.0-liter diesel will continue to be offered in the U.S. for the new 3 Series, but it’s not yet official.
For the first time, the 2013 3 Series wagon will get a power tailgate option as standard equipment. And if the 3 wagon’s Comfort Access package is ordered, it will come with BMW’s new hands-free tailgate, tech which is starting to become available on other cars. If you have the fob with you and your hands are full, you can swing your foot under the rear bumper and the tailgate will automatically open.
The 3 Series Sport Wagon offers a 40:20:40 fold down arrangement, with a pass through for skis and other long objects available if you’re heading to the slopes. There’s also an integrated a storage area for the wagon’s rear cargo cover so you don’t have to pull it out of the vehicle to store it. The 3 wagon as before will be available with a roof rack option and other associated equipment, and when you don’t have cargo on top, a panoramic roof option will brighten up the interior.
The new BMW 3 Series sedan starts at just under $36,000, expect the 3 wagon to start a couple grand or so higher than that when hits BMW dealerships next spring.
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