test
drive

WITH A base price under
$25,000, the new BMW 318ti
hatchback is now BMW’s - .
lowest-priced automobile and
should be attractive to import
buyers who want the better

- handling characteristics of a
rear-wheel-drive sporty car,
the excellent buiid-quaiity

and prestige of a BMW, and
the cargo-carrying versatility
of a hatchback. :

* However, it will be interesting to
* see whether a luxury car company
like BMW can successfully. market:
a premium hatchback in Canada,
~ Previously, BMW’s least expensive
mode] was the $29,600 318i sedan.

’ Many other automobile manufac-.

~ turers, with the notable exception of
- Saab, have dropped their small

hatchbacks in favor of small sedans. -

Hatchbacks aren't as popular in
North America as they are in Europe
because they're perceived as being
more utilitarian: In Canada, BMW
prefers to call the 318ti a coupe, not
a hatchback, ...
The 31813 (“ti stands for Touring
Internationale) is based on the 318i
: sedan. It shares the same 138 hp, :
DOHC 1.8-litre four-cylinder .
= engine, five-speed manual/four-
“speed automatic transmission,
MacPherson strut front suspension,

STYLING...

DRIVABILITY

FIT & FINISH
ENOURANGE

{160,000 KM PLUGS)”

AND MORE

But the stubby 318ti is 22 cm (8.6
in.) shorter and 110 kilograms
lighter than the sedan, and has a dif-
ferent interior, a smaller trunk, and a
more compact. but still independent,
rear suspension.

From the front, the 318ti looks
exacily fike the 318i sedan, but from
the doors back, it’s anew Beemer.
The doors are slightly Jonger and
have full frames, unlike the frame-
less doors of the 318i/325i.

Like the 318i sedan, the 31 8ti is
a delight to drive. It’s a well-bal-
anced car with a high-revving
engine and a fun-to-use manual
transmission. The suspension is
fully independent with excellent
damping, control and tracking char-

" acteristics.

The 138 horsepower, 16 valve,
dual overhead cum four-cylinder
engine revs willingly up to 6000
rp.m. and pulls 2700 r.p.m. in fifth
gear at a steady speed of 100 km-h
(62 m.p.h.). The lightweight 318ti
offers better acceleration than the
318i sedan. From a standing start,
the 31 8ti zips from 0 to 100 km-h in
8.9 seconds — compared to 9.9 sec-
onds for the 318i sedan.

However, the small four-cylinder
engine doesn’t have a lot of passing
power on the highway. You really
have to wind out the engine if you
want to pull out and pass someone
at 80 km-h (50 m.p.h.). The engine
speed-sensitive variable-assist steer-
ing is responsive and quick, and the
standard four-wheel disc brakes with
ABS are very strong.

‘Fuel consumption is very good,
but the 318ti’s is no better than the -
heavier 318i sedan according to
Transport Canada figures. City
mileage is 10.6 1/100 km (27
m.p.g.); highway 6.8 W100 km (42

m.p.g.).
Standard interior features on the

, base model include dual airbags, a

console that juts towards the driver

for easier reach, height adjustable

" See Beemer page 28

OR “PICK A PAYMENT”

WHO TO CALL:
Auto Ecitor
Andrew McCredie

985-2431 (147)

eee eae:

: Photo submitted

BASED ON the BMW 318i sedan, the rear-wheel-drive 318ti hatchback offers a 138 horsepower four- :
cylinder engine, independent suspension, disc brakes, and five passenger seating. The 378i starts
at $24,900. BMWs are available for test drives at Park Shore Motors, 1500 Fell Ave., North Vancouver.

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