Base price: $40,600
As tested: $45,720
3-liter, 300-horsepower inline 6
19 city / 29 highway
More info: www.bmwusa.com
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Back that thing up! That's the best way to describe how the BMW 3 series coupe's exterior has evolved. Now in its fifth generation, the top of the car has finally found a perfect home, set slightly further back on the frame, which helps create a longer nose and trimmer roofline. Designers also took a more subtle approach sculpting the side of the car, pounding out the sedan's harsher crease. But what really separates it from its four-door brother is how low it sits -- its feral crouch makes it look entirely different than the sedan.
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Our metallic silver tester featured a wonderfully contrasting bright red leather interior that sounds over-the-top but really worked. Auto extending seatbelt arms win the prize for favorite gizmo -- it feels like there's a robotic valet in the car. The amount of room in the rear stands out, with enough space on a giant fold-down armrest to play chess -- that is, until the pieces scattered everywhere when the car blasted off.
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BMW recently announced that its upcoming M3 will sport a 4-liter V-8 that will churn out 420 horses. That's incredible news for M-obsessed speed freaks, but the 300 horses in the 335i is more power than most drivers will ever need. Growling under the hood is a twin-turbo inline 6 that jumps to 60 in less than five-and-a-half seconds. The two compact turbos interact to kick all turbo lag to the curb. One piece of advice: Our tester featured a slightly stiff manual transmission. To get the most out of this amazing engine, definitely opt for the auto 6-speed paddle-shifting Steptronic.
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She'll be smitten by its near perfect combination of flash and dash.
-- by John D. Thomas |
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