Flying the Coupe

A YEAR after the arrival of BMW’s outstanding new 3-series saloon comes the sleek two-door coupe.

And quite a different car it is too. It may resemble its saloon sibling, but , unbelievably, there are only three minor components on the exterior that the two cars share: the door handles, side direction indicators and BMW logo. Every body panel is new; it is sleeker, wider, lower and altogether more sportingly aggressive.

Exterior dimensions prove this point. The Coupe is 46mm lower than the saloon, 17mm longer and 18mm wider. The windscreen is raked back by two degrees with the rear window sloping more sharply to make the roof flatter and shorter.

There are wider air intakes with fully integrated round foglamps at the front and a lower, broader boot lid at the rear. Additionally, the kidney grille surround has been redesigned in chrome, headlights are bolder and the direction indicators have been modified. It looks beautiful and powerful.

And it feels it inside where it benefits from the new 3-Series longer wheelbase. This gives it more space in the rear and, very un-coupe-like, good saloon-like space for two average-sized adults. Up front, too, there is plenty of leg and head room in an area which has been elegantly and well designed. You actually sit 10mm lower than the saloon.

As to be expected build and trim quality are first class as is the location of the instruments and major controls. Suspension intrusion cuts into boot space. However, the rear backrest splits 60:40 when more room is needed. And there is ‘through loading’ for long objects.

Life in the driving seat is magic. Full electronic adjustment, which includes a memory function, and steering wheel adjustment for height and reach ensure a comfortable driving position.

Six airbags as standard – front, side and head – along with ABS. Also standard is Automatic Stability Control and Traction, which supplies power to the wheels for maximum traction.

Other features inside and out on our test car 328Ci include electric front and rear windows, ‘follow me home’ light function, central locking, heated door mirrors, on-board four-function computer including temperature display, overhead dash illumination and rear centre armrest .

The Coupe shares the same technical features as the saloon. The 3-series sports suspension is standard. However, there are bigger anti roll bars, front and rear along with five to ten per cent firmer springs and dampers.

POWER: This is provided through the rear wheels by BMW’s muscular six-cylinder 2.8 litres engine which boasts lots of low speed flexibility and is very fast. It develops a very beefy 193bhp at 5,500rpm together with 207lb.ft. of torque at 3,500rpm for a 0 to 62mph in just seven seconds and a claimed top speed of 150mph. Strong, smooth and powerful. I averaged 31mpg.

On the road it feels solid and secure, well balanced, very reassuring and grips well. Gently touch the well-weighted power-assisted steering wheel – the car almost drives itself, gliding through the bends. Easy work on the twisty back lanes around our neck of the woods where it showed superb body control and surefootedness. Ride, as only to be expected with any BMW these days, is exceptional, gearchanging slick and the driving position faultless.