BMW 3 Series Coupe � BMW 335i

After the launch of the new E90 BMW 3-series (and E91 BMW 3-series station wagon) which has been on Malaysian roads for quite some time now, BMW has finally revealed the 2-door version of the E90 sedan, the E92 BMW 3-Series Coupe. Along with the new bodyshape, BMW also launches it�s first twin-turbo petrol engine in a production car for the BMW 335i SE Coupe.

The new E92 3-series coupe has a very elegant shape. The coupe roofline has a very elegant curve to it, which makes the car look longer than how it�s predecessor, the E46 Coupe looked. It�s also longer than the E90 BMW 3-series sedan, which is 4520mm long. The new BMW 3-series Coupe is 4600mm long, which is about 80mm longer. The body has a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution and the engine drives the rear wheels, except for the 328xi which is equipped with an all-wheel drive system called BMW xDrive. The new 3-series coupe body also uses plastics in certain areas like the front wing, which makes the new 3-series coupe on average 10kg lighter than equivalent sedan models.
BMW also introduces a new 335i model with the new E92 3-series coupe. The 335i is powered by a 3.0 liter in-line 6 cylinder twin-turbocharged engine. The engine is also equipped with BMW�s direct injection system using electric piezo injectors. This new 335i engine makes 306hp and torque figures are a massive 400Nm of torque available from as low as 1300rpm all the way up to 5000rpm, from where the maximum torque dips until it reaches it�s redline of 7000rpm. The engine�s torque curve sounds REALLY sweet. Would love to drive one. I previously mentioned the engine will have it�s two turbos in sequential form, so I apologize for the mis-information. The twin-turbo system is actually in-line, with a turbo being fed by 3 cylinders each. Two smaller turbos alllow a much faster spooling time than 1 big turbo. The usage of forced induction allows this new 335i engine to make as much power as a normally aspirated V8 engine of a higher displacement, but weighs 70kg lighter. The engine was designed to compete against competition like the Lexus IS350 and Infiniti�s 3.5 liter offerings, as well as be a bridge between the current 3.0 liter normally aspirated engine and the 4.0 liter V8 engine to be offered with the BMW M3. This engine gives the BMW 335i Coupe a 0-100km/h speed of 5.3 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 240km/h.

Above: Top � The new 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged 335i engine. Below � The 335i�s turbo manifold. Three cylinders feed each turbo with exhaust gas, spooling them up to create boost.
The new BMW 3-series Coupe will be introduced with 328i, 328xi, and the 335i in the US market, while the UK market will get the 325i and the 335i. Entry-level 320i Coupe and 320d turbodiesel Coupe as well as 330i and 330d turbodiesel models will be introduced later, so for now the entry-level 3-series Coupe will be the 325i. The US market BMW 3-series coupe will come with either a 6-speed close ratio manual gearbox or an automatic gearbox. The automatic gearbox option will come with paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel whenever the driver wants to have more involvement in the transmission�s selection of gear ratios.