BMW unveiled the 3 Series LCI yesterday, but with one glaring omission – the M340i. Thankfully, the missing piece of the puzzle is here as official images of the M Performance model have been released. Both the Sedan and Touring are being showcased with the same visual tweaks as the lesser versions. As before, the performance models have a different grille design.

The kidneys have changed with the mid-cycle update as BMW decided to opt for a honeycomb pattern. On the M340i Sedan pictured here, the grille is blacked out courtesy of the M high-gloss Shadow Line option. On the M340i Touring, there are metallic fins that come as standard with the M Performance model and are arranged horizontally. On the pre-LCI model, the significantly shorter fins were positioned vertically.

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Although only the M340i is depicted in these official images, BMW will continue to sell an M340d in both body styles. Contrary to a rumor that had claimed the company would axe the six-cylinder 3 Series models and keep only the M3, the M Performance gasoline and diesel model are sticking around for the second half of the G20/G21’s life cycle.

The pair of 3.0-liter engines continues with the same output, but now with mild-hybrid technology that has also been implemented on all four-cylinder diesel powertrains. The added hardware represented by the 48V starter-generator acting like an electric drive unit to assist the ICE offers an electric boost of 11 horsepower. The extra battery is juiced up courtesy of a brake energy recuperation system. A total of five engines have received the mild-hybrid treatment.

As a refresher, BMW has also rather unexpectedly revealed the 2023 M3 Sedan’s interior, which is switching to the iDrive 8 to mirror the upcoming M3 Touring. All M3s produced from this summer will get the latest-generation infotainment with the curved glass incorporating the 12.3-inch driver’s display and the 14.9-inch touchsreen.

Source: BMW