As we approach the middle of the second quarter of 2016, BMW South Africa has made several announcements about changes in its model line-ups. Here's what's changing.

This article is a quick summary of the latest changes to a handful of BMW's products. Click here to see what BMW is doing for the next five years.

The technology

BMW ConnectedDrive will start filtering new options only found in the 7 Series and 6 Series into the 1 Series, 2 Series, 3 Series and 4 Series. There'll be a new-look iDrive menu (as well as higher screen resolution on the display) and the speed recognition system has been upgraded too. Wireless charging pads for mobile phones make a welcome appearance too.

BMW 1 Series and 2 Series

The compact 2-Series gains new engines as well as a new flagship M240i model.

The headline act is the addition of the all-new performance motor in both the 1 Series and 2 Series lineups. With the new engine comes a new name, so we say farewell to 35i designation and hello to the BMW M140i and M240i. Power is rated at 250 kW and 500 Nm, which will mean a faster sprint time from zero to 100 kph. BMW's turbocharged 3.0-litre straight 6 wasn't a slouch to begin with, but now it's even faster and the firm claims it's more fuel efficient too.

There are changes to the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder motor (in various states of tune) as well. The 120i/220i gets a 5 kW boost to 135 kW, the 125ijumps to 165 kW, and there'll be the new 230i with 185 kW. These new four pots are also claimed to be more economical than their predecessors. Incidentally, the 3-door version of the 1 Series has been discontinued on the South African market.

BMW 4-Series (Coupe, Convertible, Gran Coupe)

The new engines powering theBMW 4-Series have arrived in SA.

The same renaming and new engine procedure has been applied to the BMW 4 Series as well, of which the updated range is already on sale.Here are the pricing and engine outputdetails:

4 Series Coupe

420i manual (135 kW/270 Nm)–R530 096

420i auto (135 kW/270 Nm)–R548 198

420d manual (140 kW/400 Nm) –R563 500

420d auto (140 kW/400 Nm)–R582 400

430i manual (185 kW/350 Nm)–R612 122

430i auto (185 kW/350 Nm)–R629 426

440i auto (240 kW/450 Nm)–R786 876

4 Series Gran Coupe (5-door)

420i manual (135 kW/270 Nm) –R530 096

420i auto (135 kW/270 Nm)–R548 198

420d manual (140 kW/400 Nm)–R564 000

420d auto (140 kW/400 Nm)–R582 900

430i manual (185 kW/350 Nm) –R613 122

430i auto (185 kW/350 Nm)–R630 426

440i auto (240 kW/450 Nm)–R786 876

4 Series Convertible

420i manual (135 kW/270 Nm)–R624 850

420i auto (135 kW/270 Nm)–R642 724

430i manual (185 kW/350 Nm)–R727 876

430i auto (185 kW/350 Nm)–R744 952

440i auto (240 kW/450 Nm) –R895 446

BMW 4-Series Convertible is the only version of a 4 Series that doesn't have a turbodiesel engine.

Read about these engines in our first drive article of the LCI BMW 3-Series here

Go Green with BMW iPerformance

BMW is about to launch its range of plug-in hybrid models and we'll be seeing the first one at the end of May 2016. The BMW X5 xDrive40e features electric motors, lithium-ion high-performance batteries and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol motor. With a total output of 240 kW, performance looks promising and let's not forget the money you could be saving at the pumps….It'll glide along at slower speeds on pure electric power, then switch to the turbopetrol motor.

Plug-and-play BMW X5 xDrive40e

There'll be a BMW 7 Series derivative called the 740e that uses the same hybrid engine combination as the X5.Internationally there's a BMW 330e and a 225xe Active Tourer, but there's no word on whether these will make it to South Africa.

BMW 330e on charge. It's on sale internationally, but not confirmed for South Africa…yet.

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