By EWAN KENNEDY 
18 September 2006

BMW smallest coupes have long held a special place in the lives of those who love their combination of style and technology. This just released 3 Series coupe goes further than ever before in its differentiation from the 3 Series sedan, being virtually a different model in its own right.

The coupe’s front uses the latest evolution of the BMW renowned kidney-grille theme. Note the way it stands only slightly in from the vertical and the interesting way that the frame continues down into the bumper.

A very specific style crease begins subtly behind the top of the front wheel arch. It then follows a wave pattern as it rises and falls rearwards to meet up with the forward thrust of the rear lights. There's also a clever rise in the under-door sill panel as it approaches the rear wheel arches.

Inside, the styling has a light, airy feel with a two-tone finish that works nicely. The leather, wood and metallic surfaces tie in beautifully with one another and make the cabin a most pleasant place in which to pass some time.

A neat feature sees the new 3 Series coupe pass the top portion of the safely belts to the two front occupants by sliding them forward as the ignition is turned on.

BMW has excelled itself yet again with the top engine in the new 3 Series coupe lineup. The sensational 3.0-litre straight-six is a heady 225 kW. This bi-turbo engine is installed in the flagship of the 3 Series coupe, the 335i.

The bi-turbo weighs an impressive 70 kg less than the 4.0-litre BMW V8 engine, assisting in overall balance. This sporting BMW has the perfect 50/50 weight and centering of the mass over the front and rear of the car gives the best possible cornering balance under all road conditions.

Torque kicks in virtually instantly as the small turbos spool up faster than a single, heavier one. A hefty 400 Newton metres is offered through a wide rev range. Indeed, almost every owner is likely to have the engine at its torque peak virtually all the time.

On the road that big-grunt bi-turbo engine is a sheer delight to sit behind. It’s silky smooth in a way no other marque seems able to manage, whistling up and down through the rev range in a supremely satisfying manner that will bring a smile to the face of all keen Australian drivers.

The big-power straight-six provides huge levels of safety thanks to the amount of grunt being sent to the back wheels, is highly responsive in the traditional BMW manner and provides a good, though somewhat muted, note that’s pure pleasure to listen to.

There is also a 160 kW, 2.5-litre straight-six engine that will provide plenty of performance for the average driver. Priced at $81,500, rather than the $108,500 of the bi-turbo, it’s certainly more affordable. Even better will be the $69,900 323i coupe that will arrive in December.

BMW in Australia is still a little reluctant to introduce turbo-diesel engines in its sports models here. An excellent turbo-diesel as one of the engine options in the new 3 Series coupe in Europe and may come to Australia later.

Power is transmitted to the new coupe’s rear wheels through either a full six-speed manual gearbox, or a new-design six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The latter has plenty of manual overrides for the times you really want to enjoy the pure driving pleasure for which BMW is famed.

The Steptronic has been modified to match the needs sportier needs of coupe drivers. Gear shifts are some 40 per cent faster than previously. Making its responsiveness almost race-car like and delighting the keen driver in the way it gives them the ratio they require.

This fourth-generation BMW 3 Series coupe offers an excellent combination of stylish looks, precise driving and, in the case of the largest engine, stunning acceleration that makes it faster than many a pure sports car.