The BMW 3 Series executive car has been manufactured by the Bavarian automaker since 1975. Its latest G20 iteration has already racked up a lot of mileage and has been (so far) safeguarded from the recent styling derailments performed by the carmaker on the 4 Series or the high-performance M3 and M4 models. Interestingly, we recently found out it’s also a bit underrated by the carmaker itself.
Back in 2018, when BMW outed the G20 version, the seventh generation of the iconic 3 Series was quickly scolded by some for not adopting a bolder design approach. Those folks are probably eating their words right now, considering the 4 Series/M3/ M4 kidney grille backlash. As it turns out, when dealing with the white and blue brand, it’s probably safer to remain understated.
Even better, it seems the German company has also decided to join the ranks of automakers that underrate the performance of their vehicles. Obviously, it’s not a serious case, at least not on the same level as McLaren’s 765LT hidden dyno secret. But it’s there, nonetheless. And that has the potential of making it a hoot to drive in a very special place, the Autobahn.
The folks from the AutoTopNL channel on YouTube have a habit of taking all kinds of vehicles out for an unlimited top speed drive, and on this occasion, they opted for a BMW 330i with the automatic transmission and RWD configuration. In stock form, the two-liter four-pot from under the hood uses its forced induction system to deliver 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm).
That should be enough for the executive sedan to power through the 62-mph (100-kph) sprint in 5.8 seconds and on its way to a traditional maximum speed of 155 mph (250 kph). But, as it turns out, there are a few nuances attached to the latter figure.
For starters, BMW’s high-res TFT instrument cluster has an analog-like readout alongside the digital speedometer. And that one is graded all the way up to 260 kph (around 161 mph). Even that isn’t enough, though; as we find out from the video embedded below, the 330i manages at one time (from the 3:45 mark) to go past that threshold, hitting 261 kph (162 mph).
It’s not that much of a difference, but perhaps it will be enough to outrun those BMW stylists that will probably give the ugly snot to the sedan as well when it’s time for the LCI (life cycle impulse) - a.k.a. the traditional facelift.
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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