With great fanfare, BMW introduced the sixth generation 3 Series at the BMW plant in Munich with a white 320d EfficientDynamics Edition sedan leading the way.

In quick succession, driven by apprentices at the BMW plant and paraded past thousands of cheering BMW employees, we saw seven cars in total including a grey 328i, a grey 320d, a black sapphire 320d, a blue 320d, a Melbourne red 328i, and a glacial silver 335i.

The new 3er features 50-50 weight distribution, a driver-oriented cockpit, and four versions will be available at launch, namely the 320d, 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, the 328i, and the 335i.

The 320d and 320d EDE are powered by an updated 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder diesel engine and each develops 380 pound-feet of torque.  The 320d has 184 hp and the 320d EDE has 163 hp with longer gear ratios, reduced friction components and revised electronics allowing it to get 57 mpg (4.1 l/100 km) emitting just 109 g/km CO2.

In the fall of 2012, the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will join the 3er lineup.  It uses the N55 six-cylinder gasoline engine with BMW TwinTurbo technology and a specially-designed eight-speed automatic transmission with integrated electric motor.  The motor can, for limited periods of time, increase power by up to 55 hp (40 kW), making the maximum combined output 335 hp (250 kW) with 330 pound-feet of torque.  Average fuel consumption in the EU cycle is rated at 36.7 mpg (6.4 l/100 km).

Most models will be available in Sport, Modern, and Luxury versions, each with unique design details.

Three additional models will be available approximately one month later, namely the 316d and 318d diesels, powered by 116 hp and 143 hp variants of the 2.0-litre diesel engine respectively, plus the 320i, powered by another version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

All versions of the 3er will feature a variety of new technologies that make for more fuel-efficient driving.  It is 3.7” (93 mm) longer and .25” (6 mm) narrower than its predecessor and has more interior room for passengers and luggage.

Drive Performance Control will be standard.  DPC allows the driver to switch between four driving modes, namely Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport + (Sport + is included on Sport models only).  In Eco Pro, the throttle mapping is changed to encourage a more economical driving style by requiring the driver to push harder on the accelerator pedal than normal modes require.  Eco Pro also changes where the shift points occur as displayed by the car’s Optimum Shift Indicator.  On models with an automatic transmission, the shifting pattern is changed and Eco Power also adjusts power consumption of features such as air conditioning and heated seats and mirrors.

All cars get Auto Stop-Start, regardless of transmission or engine type, as well as Energy Regeneration, on-demand control of engine ancillary components, and tires with less rolling resistance.  Depending on the model, the car’s weight has been reduced by up to 110 pounds (50 kg ).

The new 3er features a drag coefficient (Cd) as low as 0.26 and a streamlined underside, Aero Curtain air channels up front, and covers that create a diffuser effect at the rear of the vehicle.

BMW kept electromechanical steering in the 3er but developed a system that consumes no energy when the car is being drive in a straight line or in steady-state cornering.

All of the latest safety and convenience features will be available as options on the new 3er, including the full-color head-up display, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, collision warning.  Comfort (keyless) access will also allow the driver (with key in pocket) to open the trunk with a simple foot movement when standing at the rear.

The new 3er will go on sale starting in February.

Whether it’s a photo of your car being delivered at the BMW Welt, the Audi Forum, or the Mercedes-Benz Delivery Center, your car at the Grand Canyon, or your car on a winding road, we want your pictures.

Now you can show off your best car photos and win prizes to boot by entering the My Diesel Photo Contest.

The prizes are:

• First prize – Bluelounge Sanctuary charging station
• Second prize – Jabra Stone 2 Bluetooth headset
• Third prize – Innergie mCubeSlim universal travel power adapter for notebook computers

In addition, your winning photos will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Diesel Driver.

Here’s how The Diesel Driver My Diesel Photo Contest works:

1.) Select your best photos (maximum of six)

2.) Enter the Contest

Tell your friends and family to look at and vote for your photos. The votes will help guide the judges as they review the photos.

The contest judges will then pick the top three images, using input from readers of The Diesel Driver.

The Diesel Driver magazine will award first, second, and third prizes to the winners.

See the The Diesel Driver My Diesel Photo Contest Rules for complete details.

Since its start in Munich, the 335d has visited a lot of places, including Lindau, Berchtesgaden, Roßfeld, Graz, New York, Philadelphia, the Poconos, and New England.  It’s even been on Lime Rock Park’s track.

It also continues to provide as much Freude am Fahren as it did on day one.  Having now spent 12 months behind the wheel, I have found the 335d to be a unique offering, one that combines certain traits that typically aren’t found all in the same vehicle.  These are sports car-like acceleration and handling, superb fuel economy, excellent ergonomics and passenger comfort, and Teutonic attention to detail.

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The 425 pound-feet of torque propel the car forward like a rocket ship; indeed, there’s simply no other way to describe the feeling of the raw power this car has.  It handles as if it’s on rails, whether at 250 km/h (155 mph) on the Autobahn or at a slower tempo on a winding mountain road.

Fuel economy has been exemplary.  For highway driving, the car has consistently averaged 6.2 l/100 km (37.9 mpg).  As contributing editor Paul Riegler noted on an 800 km (498 mile) drive from New York to Washington and back, “No need to stop for refueling.”

The best sustained fuel economy we’ve recorded was 40 mpg (5.9 l/100 km), although we’ve seen as high as 42 mpg (5.6 l/100 km) for brief periods of time.

On a recent drive to New England, the 335d used only 6.4 l/10 km (36.8 mpg) in mostly highway driving with an average speed of 99.3 km/h (62 mph).  The return trip, at the slightly faster speed of 100.7 km/h (63 mph) used only 6.3 l/100 km.  In total, the 335d consumed a mere 25.27 liters (6.68 gallons) of diesel fuel, making the total cost of fuel for the journey under $20.

Earlier in the year, it used 6.0 l/100 km (39.2 mpg) on a drive from Philadelphia to New York at an average speed of 105 km/h (65 mph).  Driving conditions such as traffic can greatly impact average fuel economy and the drive from New York to Philly saw fuel usage of 6.8 l/100 km at an average speed of 106 km/h (66 mph).

Driving from Munich to Lindau to Berchtesgaden to Roßfeld to Graz and back to Munich, the 335d used 6.3 l/100 km (37 mpg)

In the city, fuel usage has been roughly 9.5 l/100 km (24.75 mpg).  The EPA rated the 335d at 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) for city driving and 36 mpg (6.5 l/100 km) on the highway.

By means of comparison, a similarly equipped BMW 335i (petrol version) is rated at 17 mpg (13.8 l/100 km) in the city and 28 mpg (8.4 l/100 km) on the highway.  It’s worth noting that these numbers make the BMW 335d the most fuel efficient car ever sold by BMW NA.

Click here to continue to Page 2 – Driving the BMW 335d