Inside Line stated that BMW is deciding on whether or not they will be adding the direct-injected 2.0 liter four-pot engine all the way from Europe to the 3-Series here in the States. The 170-hp engine powers the 320i and 120i across the pond. The ultra-efficient powerplant averages over 38 mpg in the European combined test cycle while still providing the razor-sharp handling that is BMW’s trademark.

Oliver Friedmann – the project director for BMW – stated that s 4-Cylinder petrol model will have a “desirable effect” in the U.S. Of course that doesn’t mean that this is official. He did state that the U.S. is not yet ready for a diesel 4-cylinder. Of course I think that we are all ready for a good change and will gladly welcome it.

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The interior has been equipped with BMW’s ConnectedDrive in the car internet along with an 80-gigabyte hard drive. Both the wagon and sedan models come available with 6-speed automatic or manual transmissions.

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Molded plastic front fenders (like those used on the 6-series) and electric power steering (as on the Z4) make their first 3-series appearance, but the real news lies in the two-door’s new powerplant. The coupe’s available 3.0-liter twin-turbo six is BMW’s first nondiesel turbo in two decades and also the first home for its new direct-injection system.

A revised, 328i-badged version of the current 3.0-liter also will be available. There’s no word yet on when-or if-the sedan will get any of the two-door’s new equipment, but if past BMW practice is any guide, a complete rollout across the line will occur within the next couple of years.

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Suspensions for U.S. and European models are identical, even though some options can differ between the two cars. U.S. cars get 17-inch and 18-inch wheels; Canadian and European cars can be fitted with 19-inch wheels. Outside the U.S., you can order paddle shifters with any automatic transmission car; here it’s part of the sport package. Vaughn said that after a brief, one-day drive in Arizona, the 335i coupe seemed to drive better and had a stiffer body.

But back to road manners with the top down. “We remember that first with its bolt-upright front end and straight-up windshield hacking through the German air like a badly deflating Zeppelin with its fabric top stowed snugly beneath a hard tonneau cover as the wind tried to rip the shoulder belt and our left shoulder completely out of their sockets. Wind management is much better in this version.”

This 3 Series convertible adds 375 pounds and about $7,000 in price when compared to the 335i coupe. The hardtop is made up of three panels that fold into the trunk in 22 seconds and provides more noise insulation, back seat room, and visibility. The new 335i convertible weighs about 3,950 pounds vs. 3,582 pounds for a 335i coupe with automatic transmission. The convertible goes on sale in late March. There’s also a 328i convertible with a 3.0-liter inline six, but without the 335i’s twin turbochargers.

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The new BMW 335i Coupé utilises a new twin-turbo, direct-injection, 3.0 litreinline six-cylinder engine to achieve levels of performance normallyassociated with large-displacement V8s. Running a high compression ratio fora turbocharged engine, and modest amounts of boost, it is also capable of9.5litre/100km fuel consumption according to EC tests. The BMW 335i Coupé features BMW’s first ever twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.The use of two smaller turbos has ensured virtually no turbo-lag in thecar’s acceleration. During testing with a VBOX data acquisition system, themagazine found that the 335i Coupé accelerated from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

NZ Autocar identifies 11 category winners from the models released on theNew Zealand market during a calendar year, then drives off six ‘finalists’picked from these category winners to judge the Car of the Year. The chosensix this year were the BMW (best performance car), Holden VE Calais V8 (bestexecutive car), Nissan Maxima Spec-R (best large car), Mazda3 SP23 (bestcompact car), Mitsubishi Outlander (best crossover), and Suzuki Swift Sport(best small car).

The magazine’s chief editor, Paul Owen, said it was fitting that the overallwinner came from the performance car category this year. “2006 really was the year of the Performance Car, and this category saw morenew model launch activity than any other. There were no less than 27 newperformance cars released on the market this year, and the BMW faced thebiggest fight of any of the class winners,” he said.

Receiving the award, BMW NZ sales manager, Peter Heuzeroth, said he felt “proud to be part of a passionate BMW team who are dedicated to delivering engineering innovation, superior performance and luxury.” Pictured Above: BMW NZ Sales Manager, Peter Heuzeroth (centre), with winning BMW 335i Coupé and Tim Kerr (left) and Ross Collett from sponsor AMI Insurance.

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The HD Radio multicasting feature allows FM stations to broadcast multiple channels of digital programming simultaneously on a single frequency. Of the more than 1,000 stations across the country broadcasting with HD Radio technology, more than 500 FM stations are offering a second (HD2) and, in many cases, a third (HD3) multicast channel. As with all HD Radio programming, there are no fees or additional costs associated with multicast channels.

The number of HD Radio stations is growing daily and expected to exceed 3,000 within the next few years. Today’s announcement continues BMW’s history of groundbreaking premium audio offerings. In August 2005, the company announced the first OEM availability of HD Radio technology in its 2006 7 Series models.

BMW then followed up in November 2005 by extending the HD Radio option to drivers of its 2006 6 Series vehicles. This past June, the company announced that HD Radio would be offered in its 2007 5 Series models. The HD Radio option on the all-new 2007 BMW 3 Series Convertible will have a Suggested Retail Price of $500.

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“Fine feathers make fine birds” – in spite of the already stylish looks of the 3 series, the appearance of this sedan is made all the more dynamic by fitting the new G-Power highline kit. All the components are produced at the tuner’s own plant “cfktec Brunsbüttel” in “hybrid” technology (carbon-fiber reinforced plastic).

The highline kit comprises the front bumper, side sills (on request with underfloor/ground lights, rear bumper, wing spoiler or roof spoiler (for Touring model variant), which are complemented by the carbon-fiber front lip and decorative carbon-fiber rear diffuser. For anyone who likes things wider, G-Power offers its “Extremo” kit, comprising 4 wheel arch extensions plus wing spoilers.

Vehicle tuning without wheels is like soup without salt. For the 3 series, G-Power offers on the one hand the “Styling III – limited edition wheels in a 19 or 20″ format. These 3-piece wheels equipped with a 16-spoke spider stand out with their 40% lower weight, compared to normal wheels.

A brand-new product, which will also be on display at the 2006 Essen Motor Show, is the silverstone diamond wheel. This wheel is characterized by its classically stylish 10-double spoke design, which has also been perfectly adapted to the BMW characteristics. The wheel is available for the 3 series BMW up to 20, starting at a price of 620 euros.

Getting in is a sheer joy when the interior has been styled with G-Power  accessories. Whether it’s the gear knob, handbrake lever, a new set of pedals or various carbon-fiber inlays, these accessories add racing flair to any BMW. For power-enhanced versions, G-Power also converts speedometers to 300 or 360 km/h scales.

As well as the above-mentioned new products, at the Essen Motor Show, G-Power will also be presenting its new tuning program for the BMW 5 series diesel, BMW 6 series G6 with 550 bhp supercharging and the new aero-design packages light-line & black-line.

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If you think of a coupe as merely a sedan with two less doors, you need to change your thinking as it applies to BMW. The coupe is nearly two inches longer, more than an inch trimmer and has a roofline that is more than two inches lower than the sedan’s. In fact, the only exterior component the coupe shares with the 3 Series sedan is door handles, and the coupe needs only two of them, so right there, one segment of component weight is cut in half.

The 2007 BMW 335i coupe features a new twin-turbocharged engine that puts out 300 horsepower, which makes for the ultimate driving machine. We found it to be an extremely responsive and pleasing car, with none of the turbo lag associated with turbochargers. Meanwhile, the 328xi features all-wheel drive, which enhances traction in wet or snowy weather. A new convertible with a retracting hardtop and the next ultra-high-performance M3 are anticipated for launch in calendar year 2007.

The 335i ($40,600) also has a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, but two small turbochargers and special fuel injectors boost the engine’s output to 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. That power flows to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The 335i adds matte 18-inch wheels (vs. 17s on the 328i and 328xi), larger brake discs front and rear, chrome exhaust tips, eight-way power front seats with memory on the driver’s side and a 13-speaker Logic 7 audio system.

Standard equipment on all 3 Series coupes includes leatherette upholstery, automatic climate control, xenon headlamps, fog lamps, heated windshield washer nozzles, door handles with ground lighting, and adaptive brake lights that alert trailing drivers to harder braking by the BMW driver.

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BMW’s infamous iDrive is now available in the 3 Series, but is thankfully optional (packaged with a navigation system), and the rest of the interior is a model of precision design. For now, only the sedan and wagon benefit from the complete makeover.

The 2006 3 Series coupe and convertible remain unchanged but will likely be merged into a single convertible model with a retractable hardtop design for the 2008 model year. The new 3 Series sedan is again badged as a 325 or 330, although both now use a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. The 325 is rated at 215 hp, while the 330’s engine comes with a three-stage induction system and different exhaust and powertrain software that result in 255 hp.

The optional Active Steering system features a variable ratio that turns the front wheels to a greater degree relative to steering wheel movement at low speeds (such as parking lots and tight corners), and even countersteers if the stability control system senses a slide. BMW’s Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG), a sophisticated transmission that combines the control of a manual gearbox with the ease of an automatic, is available on the 330i.

The 3 Series is BMW’s top seller in the U.S., and for good reason endowed with world-class suspension, steering and brake components, these cars have an ability to communicate with their drivers that is unmatched in the entry-level luxury class and, indeed, unmatched by most cars at any price. Lest you think this adroit handling comes at the expense of ride quality, rest assured that BMW still realizes the importance of comfortable cruising.

Whether you choose the standard suspension or the optional sport-tuned setup, you’ll be able to go about your weekday routine without feeling that you’ve sacrificed ride comfort for the sake of weekend thrills. Overall, the BMW 3 Series cars tend to cost more than the competition, but if you go easy on the options, we think you’ll find that the price of admission is well worth it.

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Featuring the first electronically operated folding hard-top roof offered by BMW, the world’s first car to be offered with SunReflective seat cooling leather and a brace of all-new powerplants, the 3 Series Convertible is set to remain the segment leader.

Stowed or raised in approximately 22 seconds, the new roof has been introduced, not only for added security, but also for better visibility and a greater feeling of space and light for occupants. Because the roof features a larger rear glass windscreen and side windows, visibility has improved by 38 per cent compared to the outgoing 3 Series Convertible.

The unique way in which the roof folds also maximizes available boot space. With the roof up 350 liters of storage capacity beckons while with the roof down, the boot can still accommodate up to 210 liters of luggage. In another world first, the rear seat backrests of a 3 Series Convertible can also be folded flat to provide additional storage space.

As an option, a through loading system with transport bag can also be specified to allow for longer or bulkier items to be accommodated and it can still be used when the folding metal roof is lowered. For added practicality, a stowed roof can be electronically raised out of the boot area to allow for longer items such as golf clubs to be secured before being folded away again.

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