New BMW 120d Manual Delivers a Hands-Down Dynamic Advantage

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – February 27, 2009: BMW will target sporting drivers with a green heart when the highly efficient and dynamically stimulating new manual transmission equipped BMW 120d hatch arrives mid-year.

The new environmentally friendly model consumes just 4.8-litres of diesel per 100 km/h on the combined cycle, and emits only 128 g/km of CO2.

It will be the first BMW offered in Australia to mate a six-speed manual transmission with the powerful four-cylinder diesel engine.

The third-generation common rail injection 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is renowned for its smooth and seamless acceleration when teamed with the six-speed automatic transmission, but the new six-speed manual version takes the compact luxury BMW 120d hatch into a new dimension.

Armed with 130 kW of power and a muscular 350 Nm of torque, the new BMW 120d manual will race to 100 km/h in just 7.6 seconds.

Such dynamic BMW prowess dramatically shades the performance of its rivals, one of which can muster only 77 kW and takes 11.7 seconds to complete the 0-100 km/h run.

The new BMW 120d manual will be specified in line with the BMW 120d automatic, which means it comes standard with Dynamic Stability Control, rear Park Distance Control, 17-inch light alloy wheels shod with run flat safety tyres, sport leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons, cruise control, automatic climate control, and Sport seats.

Like all BMW 1 Series models, a full range of optional equipment is available to the BMW 120d manual customer, including the M Sport Package, Professional Navigation, Comfort Access and Adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights.

The new BMW 120d manual will be priced from $46,790 plus dealer delivery and statutory charges. Deliveries commence in May 2009.