BMW 3-Series

The new 3-Series Coupé has all the ingredients to remain the UK’s biggest and best-selling coupé. It helped that the starting point – the standard 3 –was already so good, but the end result is no less impressive for that. We suspect that whichever engine you choose, the Coupé won’t disappoint. And as for the all-new3.0-litre twin-turbo powerplant? Well, it’sguaranteed to be a hit no matter what BMW bodywork it comes in.

Blistering performance and pin-sharp handling make BMW models a favourite with keen drivers, but lately its ultimate machines have been too exclusive for most of us!

As much as we love the M5, M6, M Roadster and M Coupé – all of which have grabbed the headlines this year with their race track technology and mind-blowing pace – the car we’ve been eagerly awaiting is the 3-Series Coupé. And here it is, in all its head-turning glory, complete with an all-new 306bhp, twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.

Pictures don’t do justice to what is expected to be BMW’s biggest-selling sports model. When the 335i SE and 325i SE Coupés arrive in showrooms in September (the 330i and 330d follow a month later, while four-cylinder models debut in the spring), you’ll see that the two-door 3 has a taut and poised air. It’s as though the sheet metal has been stretched tightly over the engine and wheels, across the rear-set cockpit and down to the softly finished tail.

But it wouldn’t be a head-turner without suitable finishing flourishes –and BMW hasn’t disappointed here. Sleek wing mirrors, bespoke headlamps with ring running illumination and LED tail-lights add to the rakish looks.

Climb inside and the Coupé offers a personal touch, passing the driver and passenger their seatbelts once the doors have been pulled shut. It’s a neat trick, even if it was pioneeredby Mercedes long before BMW’s first-generation model went on sale.

All occupants are guaranteed to be sitting comfortably, courtesy of a snug, driver-focused cockpit that puts you in the mood to try out the twin-turbo petrol straight-six. As is the case in the standard 3-Series, to start the engine you simply slot the key into the dashboard, press the clutch pedal, then gently thumb the starter button to bring the 335i to life. It fires up with a satisfying rumble from the exhaust.

While the full-strength M3 won’t go on sale here until the autumn, the 335i is no slouch. When pressed, it will bolt from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, although the top speed is limited to 155mph.

BMW says that, when cruising, the model will return a respectable 29mpg, while emitting 228g/km of CO2. We won’t get a chance to verify these claims until we drive the model on UK roads, but there’s no doubt that the new powerplant represents the very best of the Bavarian firm’s engineering expertise. Bristling with muscle, yet as gentle as a pussycat in everyday use, the direct-injection, twin-turbo 3.0-litre unit is as flexible as any thoroughbred turbodiesel we have tested, delivering a thumping 400Nm of torque, which peaks at an incredibly low 1,300rpm.

Select the sixth ratio on the slightly awkward-shifting manual gearbox, and the engine will pull away cleanly from 800rpm, all the way to the red line. And as it gathers pace – without a hint of turbo lag – the soundtrack that accompanies this is astonishing: a six-cylinder rasp which thrills through the hills without tiring in town or on the motorway. Yet performance in every gear is nothing less than impressive.

But what about the other parts of the package? Well, it’s classic BMW, with crisp, adjustable handling, a supple ride – our car was fitted with standard rubber, not run-flat tyres – and strong high-speed body control, plus good brakes. We tested the optional Active Steering, but this contributed little to the driving experience, and we would suggest saving the money to spend on more worthwhile extras, such as the satellite navigation system.

However, best of all is the fact that the German manufacturer continues to make the Coupé completely practical for everyday life. Four six-footers can easily be accommodated inside – rear legroom is especially impres-sive – while the boot provides 440 litres of luggage space.

Factor in the cleverly designed ski-flap, folding rear seats and cup-holders, and this is the most civilised two-door money can buy. Talking of which, a new 335i SE Coupé can be yours for £33,420. And although it isn’t exactly cheap, it is worth every penny.