Known internally as the E92, the two-door version of BMW's bread-and-butter car tempers some of the four-door's polarizing lines--and introduces a few new technical features to go along with the new sheetmetal. Molded plastic front fenders (like those used on the 6-series) and electric power steering (as on the Z4) make their first 3-series appearance, but the real news lies in the two-door's new powerplant. The coupe's available 3.0-liter twin-turbo is BMW's first in two decades and also the first home for its new direct-injection system. (A revised, 328i-badged version of the current 3.0-liter also will be available.) BMW recently announced that the 3-series sedans will get these new engines for 2007.
SPECS
328i:
3.0-liter I-6; 230 hp, 200 lb-ft
0-60 mph: 6.2 sec
335i:
3.0-liter, direct-injection twin-turbo I-6; 300 hp, 300 lb-ft
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec