2007 BMW 335i

There are two sides to this story. First, there is a coupe version of the latest 3 Series, arriving predictably after the sedan as the latest in a multi-sequel movie franchise. Then there is the subplot: The range-topping 335i coupe is the first BMW with a turbocharged engine in 20 years.

Of the two aspects to this story, BMW’s return to forced induction is probably the headline. Having pioneered street-car turbocharging with the 1974 2002 turbo sedan, BMW gave up on it after the deeply unloved flagship 745i was dropped in 1986. Fitted with a turbo version of the company’s 3.2-liter straight-six, the 745i was infamous for laggy power delivery and excessive thirst. Since then BMW hasn’t been above dropping sniffy comments about those of its rivals who have resorted to forced induction to increase performance, so the 335i is a car with plenty to prove.

From a design standpoint, the 3 Series coupe looks pretty much as you would expect. The previous two generations of the drei coupe sold by the boatload, so BMW has wisely opted not to frighten the horses with anything too radical. That means a slightly wider stance than the sedan and similar front end styling—though if you look hard, you’ll see the hood, headlamps and front fenders are unique to the coupe and the windshield angle is shallower. Xenon lights with BMW’s “Corona light rings” are standard.
That’s right, turbochargers—plural. The 335i goes into the world with not one but two compact turbines. The low-inertia turbos work in parallel, each supplying compressed air to three cylinders, and are designed to eliminate turbo lag. In conjunction with gasoline direct injection, the net result is 300 hp at a relatively low 5800 rpm, accompanied by 300 lb-ft of torque all the way from 1400 to 5000 rpm.

On the move, the flat torque plateau quickly proves itself the 335i’s defining characteristic. It does not feel particularly quick off the mark, but the engine’s smooth manners shine through as it gathers momentum. Turn up the pace, and the engine responds in good humor, feeling more than capable of matching or beating BMW’s official 0-to-60-mph time of 5.3 seconds with a manual, or 5.5 seconds with the smooth six-speed Steptronic auto (that’s not much off the 4.8-second 0-to-62-mph time of the Euro-spec M3). The 335i enjoys more mid-range torque than its M-badged sister, and on the tight roads of the Austrian test route it proved phenomenal at passing slower traffic.