One of the assets of BMW is the BMW 3 Series. It is the company’s top seller in most continents, especially in the United States and a favorite marketplace for a few good reasons: it’s a premium car endowed with world-class fit and finish, well-built, ample power, and a comfortable ride that is unmatched by most vehicles at any price. And this definition applies no matter what year or trim you choose, although it’s been producing generations to generations of 3 Series, the consumers all gets to enjoy the same benefits even though it goes through much evolution.
As for the 3 Series shoppers, the current model year represents one of transition. While the wagon, coupe and convertible still continue from the last year’s design, the sedan introduces the new sixth-generation 3 Series. It is faster than the previous 3 Series generations and slightly larger, but it is lighter and considerably more efficient than the previous series.
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As we can observe, the BMW 3 Series is offered in a variety of body trims (sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible) and engine choices. However, while the sedan trim has been completely redesigned for 2012, the rest of the trims carry over a large amount of completely unchanged parts and design for now. Some changes of the sedan to be noted include new evolutionary styling, a visually interesting cabin, revised suspension tuning, BMW’s adjustable driving settings, a new electrically driven steering wheel and additional features. And guess what? It is also the first Series since 1990s to have a four-cylinder engine. Epic!
Now, the 3 Series again is broken down into 328i, 335i and 335is (for coupe and convertible only). For the 328i, the engine differs by body style. The sedan gets 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg combined is none other superb for the class. The other 328i body styles get a 3.0-liter inline-6 that produces 230 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque.
On the other hand, the 335i regardless of body style (though it is not available on the wagon) gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 that produces 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The 335is is available only on either coupe or convertible, which features a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 which is good for 320 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. A standard rear-wheel drive is available on all 3 Series models, with all-wheel drive available only on the coupe and wagon.
When you step inside, drivers will be amazed of the show of luxury, emphasizing on the driver comfort and involvement: supportive seats underneath and a clean, clear analog gauge cluster dead ahead. But the redesigned sedan is far more interesting, especially when you opt for one of three design lines – Luxury, Sport or Modern. Over all, the BMW 3 Series is still the standard-bearer of luxury-sport class.
Photo Credits (www.bmw.com)
