MUNICH, GERMANY – For 2009, BMW made a few changes to the entry-level 3-Series, both inside and out. Also, a new diesel engine will make its way into the lineup. Designers reworked the front bumper to include larger air intakes, and the headlights have been revised. The hood features two new character lines, and in the back, the bumper, taillights (now LED-equipped) and part of the trunk lid have been restyled, making the vehicle look sharper and closer to the ground, according to www.auto123.com.

Inside the 2009 BMW 3-Series, there are new chrome inserts, a larger console-integrated storage compartment, and the subtly-redesigned armrests. The iDrive multimedia interface has also been upgraded, featuring a nine-inch liquid crystal display with improved resolution and a smaller control.

The navigation system includes a new 80 Gig hard drive, allowing music lovers to store audio files from a CD, an MP3 player, or a USB flash drive. On the safety front, active head restraints will now be standard across the line.

The big news for 2009 is the addition of a diesel-powered variant called 335d. Under its hood is a 3.0L, inline six-cylinder engine mated to a pair of turbochargers. When running on diesel fuel, it produces 265 horsepower and at 425 lb.-ft. of torque. In Canada, the 335d will initially be available as a sedan only.

The market introduction of the 2009 BMW 3-Series is scheduled for this fall. So far, no prices have been announced by the German automaker.