carandbike Awards 2022: Performance Car Of The Year - BMW M340i

The BMW M340i is Car and Bike's 2022 Performance Car of The Year. Not to be mistaken for a full-blown M car - that distinction remains with the M3 - the M340i is the softer M Performance version of the BMW 3 Series bridging the gap between the standard 330i and the full-blown M3 that is yet to make it to India.

The 3.0-litre turbo-petrol engine of the M340i churns out 382 bhp and 500Nm

Also Read: BMW M340i Review

The M340i faced competition a plenty for the category going up against more direct rivals such as the S5 Sportback along with going up against full-blown performance cars such as the 603bhp Mercedes-AMG E63, 416bhp Mercedes-AMG A45 - the most powerful hatchback on sale in India - and the full-fat 444bhp Audi RS5.

Also Read: BMW M340i - All You Need To Know

Launched in March last year, the M340i uses BMW's familiar 3.0-litre in-line six turbo-petrol engine fettled to put out 382bhp and a notable 500Nm of torque sending power to all four-wheels via a 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Compared to the standard 3 it's only the design details that set the M340i apart - also sits 10mm lower - though it's under the skin where most of the changes are. Revised suspension, the aforementioned engine, quicker shifting gearbox, sharper steering, an M Sport differential and a tuned exhaust are some of those changes.

There's a lot of M treatment throughout the cabin with all boxes ticked when it comes to the equipment list

The cabin too only gets a few cosmetic differences over the regular 3 with all the bells and whistles carried over along with a few additions. The M340i is currently priced at Rs 64.90 lakh (ex-showroom, India) with BMW locally assembling the performance sedan in India.