BMW wins World Touring Car Championship and spins out a homologation special

BMW won the 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship for Manufacturers and its driver Andy Priaulx won the Driver’s Championship, securing back to back victories despite an 18-year gap between events - BMW won the first World Touring Car Championship in 1987, with the second (2005) Championship finishing last week in Macau, China. Co-incidental with the Championship wins, BMW has announced a limited edition performance-enhanced 3 Series Sedan to comply with FIA homologation regulations and to promote the 2005 victories and the 2006 efforts. The new BMW 320si Sedan is a limited edition of the 2006 BMW World Touring Car. It boats 127 kW and a host of race-bred features. Only 2,600 will be built.

It is designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations and has a hand-built four-cylinder engine made at BMW’s engine plant at Hams Hall, United Kingdom.

The high revving 2.0-litre unit delivers 127 kW at 7,000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm.

This engine powers the BMW from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and to a top speed of 224 km/h. Although inspired by the racetrack, the car still delivers excellent fuel economy and conforms to the EU4 emissions regulations.

The limited production run of the BMW 320si starts in March 2006 and ends in September 2006.

This high level of performance has been achieved using BMW’s motorsport technology. Compared with the regular BMW 320i, the engine has been significantly modified with larger induction and exhaust valves to increase airflow. The cylinder bore has increased by 1 mm to 85 mm while the stroke has been reduced by 2 mm to 88 mm.

The compression ratio of the engine has also been increased from 10.5:1 to 11.0:1, helping to boost power by 7 kW over the 320i. Additionally, instead of running with grey-cast-iron cylinder liners, the pistons run in special aluminium-alloy liners in the cylinder block.

In a direct link with BMW’s motorsport programmes, the cylinder head is cast at BMW’s Landshut foundry alongside Formula One engine blocks. Additionally, to save approximately 10 kg and lower the car’s centre of gravity, the cylinder head cover is made of carbon fibre.

The new BMW 320si mates its high levels of performance with World Touring Car looks. The specification of the 320si is based on the 3 Series M Sport model that includes front and rear aerodynamic body styling, sports seats, sports suspension and aluminium interior trim.

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