BMW 3 Series Convertible Debuts at NAIAS
4 January 2000
Watch it on The Auto ChannelBMW 3 SERIES CONVERTIBLE TO MAKE WORLD DEBUT AT NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW Woodcliff Lake, NJ, December 15, 1999...Following a 45-percent increase in year-to-date 3 Series sales in the US, BMW announced that a new 3 Series convertible would join the line. The car will make its world debut at the North American International Auto Show. Launching in the US in March 2000, the new 3 Series convertible will be the third generation of the popular open-air car. The 323Ci convertible will be powered by BMW's well-known 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower. Further engine variants will follow in autumn 2000. The convertible is unmistakably a member of the new BMW 3 Series family, which started with the sedan in 1998. In spring 1999 the sedan was followed by the 3 Series coupe identical with the convertible from the front bumper all the way to the A-pillar. The even more striking waistline, the more muscular rear end and the very elegant softtop nevertheless give the convertible a very personal character. The convertible is also a truly unique car inside. The front seats, for example, are brand new and feature a first in this category - an integrated belt system ensuring optimum seat belt geometry at all times. Other standard features include rollbars integrated into the rear headrests, which move up automatically whenever required. Frontal and side airbags protect the occupants in the event of an accident. Together with proven AST traction system and the DSC stability enhancement system, this once again puts the new 3 Series convertible right at the top in its segment of open four-seaters. The fully lined and padded soft roof also comes with new features. One of them is the heated, scratch-proof rear glass window fitting conveniently into the new, variable roof compartment. Like a folding box, the roof compartment itself folds up when not in use, providing a luggage compartment capacity of 10.5 cu. ft (300 liters) whenever the roof is up. # # #