Best Car Models & All About Cars: 2012 3 Series Coupe

2012 3 Series Coupe

Introduction

Don't mess with a good issue. You'll imagine these words hanging higher than the engineers and designers who created the redesigned 2012 BMW three Series. It wouldn't be so much-fetched to call the three Series a legend, as it has collected countless accolades, a loyal client base and excellent sales during its five previous generations. It's consistently been the benchmark for which all others in its value section are judged. In other words, it is a huge deal when a replacement three Series is introduced.

For this year, BMW is introducing the new sedan only. The coupe, convertible and wagon (all of that we tend to still highly suggest) are unchanged other than gaining some further normal equipment. As for the sedan, its evolutionary look attracts liberally from the five Series, but the 3's new nose could be a break from tradition, with headlight clusters that meet widened kidney grilles. The interior gets a way additional visually fascinating style than the rather plain one it replaces. The addition of 3 optional "equipment lines" -- Luxury, Sport and Modern -- bring with them completely different color schemes and trim materials that augment the 3's customization potential.

The new three Series sedan is larger than the outgoing automobile but really weighs less, thanks, in half, to increased use of aluminum in the revised suspension. The steering is currently electrically driven; this helps to increase fuel potency, though it's lost a bit of that trademark BMW steering feel in the process. Like all recently introduced BMW models, the three Series gets Driving Dynamics Control, which permits the driver to select among four modes that alter throttle response, steering effort and shift patterns of the automatic transmission.

Under the hood, the base model 328i sedan loses its naturally aspirated inline-vi in favor of a turbocharged four-cylinder that produces more power and torque and additionally achieves actually unbelievable fuel economy. BMW purists might cringe at the words "four-cylinder," but it's quicker than the old car and vastly a lot of economical in addition. Those purists will at least be happy to hear that the 335i's turbocharged inline-vi carries on. A replacement, optional eight-speed automatic transmission and a fuel-saving auto stop/begin system round out the powertrain changes.

The redesigned BMW three Series sedan is, for the most part, improved for 2012, and nevertheless its stronger competition makes choosing one tougher than it's ever been. The Audi A4 and S4, Infiniti G and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are all wonderful choices. Each of these conjointly offers totally different body styles that are for the foremost part similarly appealing. Nevertheless, the new 3 continues to be a winner even if BMW decided to mess with a smart issue.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2012 BMW three Series is obtainable in sedan, coupe, hardtop convertible and wagon body styles. The coupe, convertible and wagon belong to the previous-generation body vogue, whereas the sedan is an all-new model.

Every body vogue starts off in 328i guise. The sedan comes commonplace with 17-inch alloy wheels, adjustable drive settings, automatic headlights, foglights, automatic wipers, cruise control, automatic twin-zone climate management, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, eight-manner manual front seats, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth phone connectivity, the iDrive electronics interface and a premium sound system with a CD player, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.

The coupe differs with a sport-tuned suspension, while the convertible gets a totally powered retractable hardtop and 10-means power front seats with memory functions. Each 2-door body styles add adaptive xenon headlights and a 60/forty-split-folding rear seat. The wagon differs from the sedan's equipment with 16-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof, whereas not including the auxiliary audio jack and iPod/USB audio interface. None of the higher than embody the sedan's adjustable drive settings or Bluetooth, but the latter is an option.

The 335i primarily represents a a lot of powerful engine and is obtainable on all however the wagon. On the sedan, it additionally adds eighteen-in. alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, automatic high beams, a sunroof, eight-approach power front seats (with four-way power lumbar) and an auto-dimming mirror. The coupe and convertible are similarly equipped, however lack the auto-dimming mirror and automatic high beams. The convertible adds heat-reflective leather upholstery.

The 335is coupe and convertible get an upgraded engine, sport exhaust, a sportier suspension calibration, 18-inch wheels, unique styling parts, sport seats and a sport steering wheel.

Most of the extra things on sure body designs and trims are out there as choices on the others. There are several different options available yet, most of that are available each within packages and as stand-alone choices. These embrace larger wheels, an automatic parking system (sedan only), headlight washers, parking sensors, keyless ignition/entry, a lively steering system, heated front seats, heated rear seats (sedan only), a heated steering wheel, a power rear sunshade (coupe only), BMW Assist emergency communications system (includes Bluetooth), a navigation system (includes BMW's iDrive electronics interface), a head-up show (sedan only), satellite radio and a Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system.

Finally, the sedan can be equipped with 3 optional equipment lines -- Luxury, Sport and Modern -- that embrace totally different wheel styles, color schemes, trim varieties, seats, steering wheels and even suspension tuning.

Powertrains and Performance

The 328i sedan is powered by a a pair of.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission are standard; an eight-speed automatic is optional. Each come back with an auto start/stop function that turns off the engine when the car stops in order to save fuel. In Edmunds performance testing, a manual-equipped 328i went from zero to sixty mph in five.nine seconds -- quicker than all its four-cylinder competitors. EPA-estimated fuel economy is twenty four mpg town/thirty six mpg highway and 28 mpg combined with the automated, and twenty three/34/27 with the manual -- these are each exceptional for the category.

The 328i coupe, convertible and wagon get a 3.0-liter inline-half-dozen that produces 230 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual are normal; a six-speed automatic and every one-wheel drive are optional. BMW estimates a manual-equipped coupe would go from zero to 60 mph in vi.2 seconds -- all other transmissions and body designs would be within a second slower than that. EPA-estimated fuel economy is eighteen/twenty eight/22 for the rear-drive coupe irrespective of transmission. The other body styles and all-wheel drive achieve 1 or 2 mpg worse in each cycle.

All 335i models regardless of body style get a 3.zero-liter turbocharged six-cylinder that produces 300 hp and three hundred lb-ft of torque. Each body vogue gets the same transmission and drivetrain selections as their respective 328i versions. BMW estimates a zero-60 time of 5.four seconds for the sedan, and in Edmunds performance testing the coupe was a very little quicker than that. Fuel economy estimates for the 335i sedan are an impressive twenty three/thirty three/twenty six with the automated and twenty/thirty/twenty three with the manual. The coupe gets a still solid 19/28/twenty two with rear-wheel drive and also the manual. The automatic and every one-wheel drive drop those estimates by one or a pair of mpg relying on body style.

The 335is contains a twin-turbocharged three.zero-liter six-cylinder good for 320 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. There is also a temporary overboost function that bumps max torque up to 370 lb-ft. A six-speed manual is standard, and a seven-speed automated twin-clutch manual known as DCT is optional. In Edmunds performance testing, a manual-equipped 335is Coupe went from zero to 60 mph in five seconds. Fuel economy with the manual is eighteen/twenty six/twenty one and 17/24/19 with DCT.

2012 3 Series Coupe