At the end of this month people across the country will come together with family and friends to drink champagne, watch the ball drop in Times Square, and celebrate the New Year.  To get ready for the New Year's celebrations, your Lake Bluff new 3 Series dealership compiled a countdown of our three favorite features on the 2012 BMW 3 Series.  The BMW F30, which is the sixth-generation 3 Series, will be available as a 328i or 335i model.

3.  Power Boost

The 2012 BMW 3 Series models have a standard six-speed manual transmission, but both models are also available with the new eight-speed automatic transmission.  The BMW base 328i model is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which pumps out 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.  A 3.0-liter turbocharged engine powers the 335i sedan and boasts an impressive 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. 

2. Fuel ECOnomy

BMW's commitment to increasing fuel efficiency is evident in the BMW 3 Series models, which are equipped with several fuel economy features.  The automatic stop/start function is standard on the 2012 BMW 3 Series.  Chicago drivers can also choose to use the ECO Pro mode, which can decrease fuel consumption as much as 20 percent.  In addition, the ECO Pro mode reduces the power sent to the auxiliary systems to help increase fuel efficiency. 

1. Trickster Trunk

One of the most convenient standard features on the new BMW 3 Series is the automatic trunk opener. When your hands are full of groceries, you no longer have to search for your car keys because with the automatic trunk opener you can easily wave your foot under the rear bumper and the trunk pops open. 

Although BMW's scheduled release for the F30 is mid-February 2012, we are already counting down the weeks until the newest 3 Series arrives in our dealership.  If you are interested in learning more about the 2012 BMW 3 Series models, please stop in to your local Lake Bluff new 3 Series dealership where our friendly and helpful staff can answer your questions about innovative features on the F30 models.  As we ring in this New Year, we will be celebrating and counting down...3...2...1...Happy New BMW!