BMW has launched the new 3 Series Long Wheelbase in India, with local production taking place at the BMW Group Plant in Chennai. The luxury sedan is currently available in a petrol variant, while the diesel version is set to arrive at a later date. Priced at Rs 62.60 lakh (ex-showroom), the new BMW 330Li M Sport is now available at all BMW dealerships across the country.

The new BMW 3 Series Long Wheelbase comes in a range of striking metallic colors, including Mineral White, Skyscraper Grey, M Carbon Black, and Arctic Race Blue. Inside, the luxury sedan features premium Leather Vernasca Cognac upholstery, enhancing the cabin’s elegance and comfort.

Powering the new BMW 330Li is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, delivering 258hp and 400Nm of peak torque between 1,550 and 4,400rpm. Paired with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission, the sedan ensures smooth power delivery and quick acceleration. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds, offering a blend of performance and efficiency ideal for both city and highway driving.

The new BMW 330Li is designed for an engaging driving experience, featuring steering-mounted paddle shifters and cruise control with a braking function. For those seeking dynamic performance, the Launch Control function enables rapid acceleration with enhanced traction from a standstill. Drivers can also tailor their experience using the Driving Experience Control switch, which offers multiple modes—ECO PRO for efficiency, Comfort for a balanced ride, and Sport for spirited driving. Measuring 4,819mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,961mm, the sedan provides a spacious and premium cabin experience.

The new BMW 330Li prioritizes safety with a comprehensive suite of advanced features. It comes equipped with six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Cornering Brake Control (CBC) for enhanced stability. Additional safety measures include an electric parking brake with an auto-hold function, side-impact protection, and an electronic vehicle immobilizer with a crash sensor. For child safety, the sedan offers ISOFIX seat mounting, while an integrated emergency spare wheel is neatly placed under the load floor for added convenience.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India, said, “The new BMW 3 Series Long Wheelbase has set new standards in its segment with an elongated design, enhanced space, luxurious comfort, and dynamic performance. Impressive in every way, it also possesses the most powerful engine in its class. With the new update, the 3 LWB has increased its appeal even further by adding new striking design elements and driver assistance features. As always, it continues to deliver sheer driving pleasure with superlative luxury, making it a perfect choice for individuals as well as their families.”

Seoul, Feb 27: Kia, South Korea’s second-biggest carmaker, said on Thursday it has unveiled its new electric vehicle (EV) models and future electrification strategy at an event in Spain.

Kia showcased three key models — the Kia EV4, Kia PV5 and Kia Concept EV2 sport utility vehicle (SUV) — representing its latest electric technology and design innovations.

The EV4 is Kia’s first electric sedan, the PV5 is its first purpose-built vehicle (PBV) equipped with Hyundai Motor Group’s dedicated PBV platform named E-GMP.S and the Concept EV2 is a compact addition to its growing dedicated EV lineup, reports Yonhap news agency.

E-GMP.S stands for the electric-global modular platform for service architecture that allows for flexible configurations through its modular body system.

“Kia remains committed to becoming the world’s leading EV brand and sustainable mobility solutions provider by enhancing the options and experiences we offer our customers,” Kia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President Song Ho-sung said.

The EV4 comes with the group’s dedicated EV platform, named E-GMP, and an 81.4 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.

It boasts of the longest driving range at 533 kms per charge among EV models made by Kia and its bigger affiliate Hyundai Motor.

Kia plans to launch the EV4 in global markets after initially introducing its hatchback version in Europe this year.

The company aims to sell a total of 165,000 units a year of the EV4 model globally, targeting 80,000 units in Europe, 50,000 in the United States and 25,000 in South Korea.

It will launch the PV5 lineup in global markets after placing the PV5 in the domestic and European market later this year.

The PV5, shown as a concept at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, is the first dedicated model from Kia’s PBV business strategy.

Four variants of the PV5 illustrated the industry-transforming flexibility of the first PBV model with the PV5 Cargo, PV5 Passenger and PV5 Wheelchair Access Vehicle (WAV) variants, along with PV5 Crew, a flagship conversion model developed by Kia.

The PV5 serves as a new ground for innovation, laying the foundation for a new form of EV usability with exceptional flexibility through radical modularity, the release said.

“As a first mover in the PBV sector, Kia, through the PV5, combines a customer-oriented approach with advanced EV technology to transform personal mobility,” Song said.

The PV5 is set to be showcased at the Seoul Mobility Show that opens next month.

Meanwhile, the maker of K5 sedans and Sorento SUVs plans to launch the mass-produced model of the EV2 SUV in Europe next year.

Kia expects to sell more than 100,000 units a year of the EV2 model in Europe following its launch next year.

New Delhi, Feb 26: Telecom major Bharti Airtel Ltd. on Wednesday said that it is holding bilateral discussions with the Tata Group for a potential merger between Tata Play’s Direct To Home business and its subsidiary Bharti Telemedia.

The statement to the stock exchanges came in response to a media report stating the Tata and Bharti Groups are “near a mega DTH merger”.

“We wish to submit that Bharti Airtel Limited (‘Airtel’) and Tata Group are in bilateral discussions to explore a potential transaction to achieve a combination of Tata Group’s Direct To Home (‘DTH’) business housed under Tata Play Limited, with Bharti Telemedia Limited, a subsidiary of Airtel, in a structure acceptable to all parties,” Airtel said in the statement to the exchanges.

However, Airtel emphasised that “the above is at a discussion stage only”.

The media report cited sources as saying the merged entity is expected to be run by Bharti Airtel, which will likely hold between 52-55 per cent with the remaining held by Tata Play shareholders, including Walt Disney.

Tata Play, a 70:30 venture between Tata Sons and Disney, and Airtel had a combined 35 million paid subscribers as of last September, more than half the 60 million subscribers industry-wide at the time, official data showed.

The two businesses are being approximately valued between Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore each, according to the media report.

In a separate development, Airtel has announced its collaboration with Ericsson to roll out 5G Standalone (SA) network technology. This partnership aims to enhance Airtel’s network capabilities, ensuring a seamless transition to a full-scale commercial 5G SA network over time.

Ericsson will be supplying key 5G equipment to telecom operator Bharti Airtel for a seamless transition to a commercially live, full-scale 5G Standalone (SA) network over time.

“Ericsson’s enduring partnership with Airtel has entered an exciting new phase, marked by the deployment of Ericsson’s 5G core solutions to support Airtel’s transition to 5G Standalone. This rollout will play a pivotal role in Airtel’s long-term 5G strategy, boosting network capacity and enabling the delivery of innovative, differentiated services to customers,” Airtel’s Chief Technology Officer Randeep Sekhon said.

The new capabilities represent a strategic enhancement to Bharti Airtel’s 5G monetisation efforts, enabling the development of new business models, Ericsson said.

In the SA mode, the network is built only on 5G, whereas in the NSA mode, the 5G network operates as a top-up on an existing layer of the 4G and 3G radio network.

As part of the agreement, Ericsson will deploy its signalling controller solution within Airtel’s network. Ericsson’s 5G SA-enabled charging and policy solution will also be introduced. These new capabilities represent a strategic enhancement to Bharti Airtel’s 5G monetisation efforts, enabling the development of new business models.