New Beemer 3 Series Coupé unveiled

BMW has unveiled its latest generation 3 Series Coupé. Arguably the world's top-selling prestige two-door, the 3 Series Coupé has been a success story Down Under with over 9000 of the current E46 series up-market two-doors sold since introduced in 1999.

The new 3 Series Coupé gets the model designation E92 in BMW-speak. Based on the latest E90 four-door, the Coupé shares little sheet metal and is the most differentiated 3 Series two-door ever, according to BMW sources – even down to bespoke paint colours.

The new car will eschew the Ci model name used in the previous iterations. In the metal, the cars will be differentiated only by engine capacity-related badging.

And engines are a key part of the E92 story -- in particular the availability from launch of the new turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol six in the new 335i.

Boasting 225kW and 400NM of torque from 1300-400rpm, the new engine combines twin non-sequential turbochargers and direct petrol fuel-injection. The only other current BMW petrol model to use DFI is the 760i V12 limo.

Though the 'big' six's tune is relatively soft (the unblown N52 3.0lt six on which it’s based produces 200kW in E92 guise), it will nonetheless endow the top-of-the-range Coupé with prodigious performance -- BMW is quoting a 0-100km/h time of 5.5sec. Overtaking urge should be mega!

With even a subtle tweak this engine could easily top the 252kW of the current E46 M3 engine, BMW's most powerful inline six. Thus, with this potential and the new M3 (due later in 2006) to be powered by a V8 based on the M5's 5.0-litre V10, we expect the bi-turbo engine to become a favourite of tuners worldwide.

Also available at launch Down Under will be the 'base' E92 coupe, the 325i. Featuring the current mag-alloy lightweight 2.5-litre DOHC inline six, the 325i delivers a maximum output of 160kW and peak torque of 250Nm. Performance claims for the E92 325i are a 0-100km/h time of 6.9sec and combined fuel consumption of 8.4lt/100km.

Both engines will be offered (in Europe at least) mated to both manual and automatic transmissions. Both six-speeders for the new Coupé, the auto is equipped with wheel-mounted paddles and has been upgraded for faster shift times -- down by 40 per cent compared with a conventional automatic transmission, says BMW.

Further engine options will likely be offered Down Under once the initial 'shine' has come off the model. This is a standard tactic of BMW and archrival Mercedes-Benz. Expect a cheaper 320i entry-level model and perhaps one more model. BMW will offer a diesel coupe in Europe though it is unlikely it will arrive Down Under.

Engines are important, but it's the look of the new Coupé that Joe Public will notice first. Continuing the toned-down 'flame-surfacing' of the current 3 Series crop, the car looks just a touch unwieldy in the photos. BMW sources say (like the 5 Series) the look translates better in the metal. It needs to…

Though derivative of the E90 four-door, the Coupé's distinctive front-end is crowned by a more powerfully profiled bonnet complete with Z4M-style power dome. The headlamps are unique and are Bi-xenon across the range.

The rear is dominated by un-BMW-like twin opposed big-bore exhausts and the rear three-quarter view has a hint of Mercedes CLK to it. There's new taillight treatment with lamps split across the boot lid shut line and 7 Series style horizontal light 'rods' that the company says give the car "an unmistakable look"  at night.

The large doors feature a interesting kink to their trailing edge that echoes the trademark Hoffmeister kink of the C-pillar. The exterior mirrors are unique, styled "to blend harmoniously with the car's overall design,"  says the maker.

Inside, the Coupé is strictly a four-seater for the first time. Like some of the mega-expensive two doors on the market today and Benz's CLS four-door 'coupe', the E92 has separate rear seats and belts for two. A centre console is delivered to rear passengers with storage (and probably media and HVAC controls in top-end versions).

Sources say the Coupé's boot is very large. This suggests that extra room has been created to accommodate the yet-to-be-announced cabrio's folding metal roof (a first for BMW).

Up front the dash combines elements of 3, 5 and 7 Series design. That said the theme seems to be more fluid and door and console elements connect front and rear sections more harmoniously than the larger cars. A 'belt-bringer' a la Mercedes SL coupes 'hands' the seat belt to front seat occupants on start up.

Suspension and braking systems are upgraded for the new 3 Series Coupé, says BMW. A measure of the added dynamism and mind set is the fact the driver has the option to completely deactivate the DSC system. This is not the case with the E90 sedan nor 1 or 5 Series non-M models for instance.

BMW sources confirm that the new car will be on sale in Australian dealers before October's Australian International Motor Show at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

As noted above two models will be offered at launch. It's our guess that the 325i will hit the ground at around $75,000. The 335i will likely be priced above the existing 330Ci range which currently kicks off at $95,300.

While the company is tight-lipped on the arrival of a cabrio version of the new Coupé, CarPoint's sources have confirmed that the car will arrive Down Under in time for the Melbourne Motor Show in February.

Look out for CarPoint and Wheels Magazine's coverage of the international launch of the new E92 3 Series Coupé later next month.