BMW has released the official press release along with a bunch of images of the 2009 BMW 3-Series which will arrive in dealerships starting October 2008. Besides the facelift to the front and rear of the new 3-Series, BMW has added an extended range of diesel and gasoline engines, the next-generation of iDrive with BMW ConnectedDrive, optimised all-wheel drive available for 5-engines and for the first?time ever - a 7-speed sports automatic transmission with double clutch.

New this year is the BMW 330d - powered by a 3.0L 6-cylinder diesel with a turbocharger that produces 245-hp with a peak torque of 384 lb-ft. 0-62mph comes in at 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 155mph. Even with all that performance the BMW 330d gets 42mpg - but we most likely wont get it on the stateside (well be getting the 335d later this year). Click through for a complete list for the 2009 BMW 3-Series powertrain range).

BMW has also added a double-clutch 7-speed sports automatic transmission from the new 2008 M3?to the BMW 335i coupe and convertible. BMW says that the transmission offers even more dynamic performance along with optimized fuel-consumption figures.

Well get more details of the U.S. 2009 BMW 3-Series lineup in a couple of months.

2009 BMW 3-Series :