2008 BMW 335i
Sunday, October 29th, 2006
BMW has finally announced its fourth-generation 3-series convertible and released photos of its first folding-hardtop car. The tin roof is a three-piece unit operated either by a single switch on the center console or a button on the key fob for remote opening. This feature will only work within about 15 feet of the car, which seems like nothing more than a party trick. If you have to be standing next to the car to operate the top, why not be sitting in it?
The 3-series will sink its top into the trunk in 22 seconds, with the conversion back into a coupe taking just a second longer. With the top up, the trunk will hold 12.4 cubic feet; top stowed, the 3-series will still take on 8.8 cubes of cargo. The BMW’s closest rival is the Volvo C70, which also features a folding hardtop and a vestigial back seat. The Volvo’s trunk will swallow just a touch more with the top up, but holds less than the BMW with the top down. The rest of the current crop of hardtop convertibles are tighter in the trunk both as coupes and convertibles.
We get two 3-series cabrio verisons in the U.S., both powered by a 3.0-liter inline-six connected to either a six-speed manual or automatic: the 328i and twin-turbo 335i with 230 and 300 horsepower, respectively. In Europe, it’s available as a 330d diesel, 335i twin-turbo inline six, 330i and 325i naturally-aspirated inline sixes, or 320i inline-four. With prices for the coupes on our shores beginning at $36,000, don’t expect to find a 3-series cabrio for much less than $40,000.
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