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 litre 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 litre offerings, as well as be a bridge between the current 3.0 litre normally aspirated engine and the 4.0 litre 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 litre 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.
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Been expecting something like this from BMW. The lower spec 3 series coupe which are the 328i and 328XI (XI is the 4wd option from BMW).
Hopefully it comes with the new ultra quick automatic shift BMW has just announced which enables the driver to shift from first to second gear in 100 miliseconds.
Replacing some metal fenders with plastic fenders has thoroughly reduced it's weight from it's counterparts once again making it a worth adversary to anyone who challenges it. Can't wait to see what the new M3 has to offer =). I'm dreaming of a V8 400 HP White….M3, just like the one I always dreamed.
Yup, it has the new automatic shift.
I like the ass… best looking yet! :)
wasn't BMW gonna call this the 4-Series? blur :P
I thought the new 3-series was the ugliest ever BMW's ever produce! But this coupe is drop dead gorgeous! It looks better than Cameron Diaz! Hahaha…
Is Cartrade bringing this model here? How much will it cost on Malaysian soil? Any idea?
How come BMW made something suppose to be a standard coupe into something looking more like a Grand Tourer? BMW no longer sporty lookin…… haigh… couldn't imagine what the M3 will looked like other than all the aggresive styling of skirtings and spoilers. It looked good and elegant, but something's not nice. It's like asking someone from Rolls Royce to design a BMW. Everything looked so calm, so decent, so subtle and understated. Oh, the rear looked boring and bland. Yupe, it looked good, but again, something's not soooo right.
is it just me, or is the car kinda inbalanced? it seems like the car is dominated by the front, ending in a somewhat smaller rear end… something like the 3 series, but more obvious this time… dunno, just something i noticed. nice rear tho :D
Ugh…its not ugly, by any means, just not very sporty, a bit too stately. And the proportions are a bit wrong. Looks like a bigger car that was shrunken down. Well at least it looks better than the fatman 4 door version.
Shouldn't the 3 Series Coupe be the similar design as the 3 Series Saloon? A bit surprise to see this version of BMW 3 Series Coupe. Anyway, nice car though, elegant look. To be honest, I would think the E46 design is the nicest design so far by BMW.
This engine certainly have some wow factor! Twin Turbo neh…
i think it looks fine – got good stance (see the first picture) and pretty nice front end.
but think the rear overhangs too much and the rear lights look a bit strange – too big IMO.
www.bmw.com said its top speed is 250km/h
The proportions are out. wayyy out. E46 still the best looking.
I wonder if the turbos can be fitted to the current on the road 3 litre (258bhp) engines? That would be superb!!
still not WOW design but better than the sedan..
Gimme the E46 anytime!
This new 3-series coupe is elegant, but not sporty. Long wheelbase and funny looking proportions (as mentioned by everyone).
Hope the Motorsport division or AC Schnitzer or Hamann or whatever in-house mods can make this tame-looking coupe look a little sportier.
What is this 328i for the US market? Does it have a 2.8L engine or is this another one of BMW's badge gymnastics?