What is it?
BMW 3 Series coupe and convertible
What's special about it?
In an attempt to keep the popular 3 Series two-doors at the top of their game, BMW gave both cars the same freshening on the outside as the 3 Series sedan received earlier this year. Both cars are slightly longer, lower and wider than the sedan giving them a sleeker look overall. The revised front fascia includes a wider twin-kidney grille, modified powerdome hood, more compact airdam and reshaped headlights and turn signals. New dynamic adaptive LED taillights tailor their intensity and light pattern according to how hard the brakes are pressed for increased safety while an optional adaptive headlight system can actually alter the light pattern to "see" into turns.
Performance enthusiasts will be glad to learn that all 330Ci models will come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the smaller displacement 325Ci models getting a five-speed manual. All models will have the option of either a five-speed automatic or BMW's new six-speed Sequential Manual gearbox (SMG). Other new options include a DVD-based navigation system, voice activated telephone and navigation controls and a wide range of 16-, 17-, and 18-inch wheel designs.
Why should you care?
Unless you're a die hard BMW fan not many of these improvements will be of much interest to you. The revised front ends are barely noticeable to most observers although the new adaptive taillights look like an interesting innovation. The availability of the SMG transmission is another new option that may prove popular, but with a standard close-ratio six-speed manual it hardly seems necessary. -- Ed Hellwig
BMW 3 Series coupe and convertible
What's special about it?
In an attempt to keep the popular 3 Series two-doors at the top of their game, BMW gave both cars the same freshening on the outside as the 3 Series sedan received earlier this year. Both cars are slightly longer, lower and wider than the sedan giving them a sleeker look overall. The revised front fascia includes a wider twin-kidney grille, modified powerdome hood, more compact airdam and reshaped headlights and turn signals. New dynamic adaptive LED taillights tailor their intensity and light pattern according to how hard the brakes are pressed for increased safety while an optional adaptive headlight system can actually alter the light pattern to "see" into turns.
Performance enthusiasts will be glad to learn that all 330Ci models will come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard with the smaller displacement 325Ci models getting a five-speed manual. All models will have the option of either a five-speed automatic or BMW's new six-speed Sequential Manual gearbox (SMG). Other new options include a DVD-based navigation system, voice activated telephone and navigation controls and a wide range of 16-, 17-, and 18-inch wheel designs.
Why should you care?
Unless you're a die hard BMW fan not many of these improvements will be of much interest to you. The revised front ends are barely noticeable to most observers although the new adaptive taillights look like an interesting innovation. The availability of the SMG transmission is another new option that may prove popular, but with a standard close-ratio six-speed manual it hardly seems necessary. -- Ed Hellwig
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