2007 BMW 335i Sedan
September 26th, 2006
When the fifth-generation 3-series sedan made its debut in early 2005, it was hard to see just where a significant improvement might be made in this outstanding car. Then the 335i coupe came along, and suddenly the plan became clear: they’ll make that 3.0-liter turbo engine available in the sedan.
And here it is. Background: The 2006 330i helped the 3-series make its 15th consecutive appearance on the Car and Driver 10Best Cars list. Its classic inline-six, a BMW powertrain mainstay since 1924, was re-engineered from top to bottom, with heavy emphasis on weight reduction, including extensive use of magnesium, a new valvetrain, new everything. The result was a dramatic uptick in output: 255 horsepower, 220 pound-feet of torque, from a 3.0-liter engine that was 22 pounds lighter than its predecessor. It lowered the 330i’s 0-to-60 mph time to 5.6 seconds.