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BMW Group Australia has announced pricing for its new pure-bred sports Coupés.
The elegant, sporty and high-technology 3 Series Coupés will arrive in
dealers in October in 325i and 335i six-cylinder guise.
The 335i assumes pre-eminence in the 3 Series family thanks to its innovative
3.0-litre Twin Turbo petrol engine that delivers a creamy smooth 225 kW of power
at 5,800 rpm and a massive 400 Nm of torque between 1,300 rpm and 5,000 rpm.
Acceleration to 0-100 km/h is a rapid fire 5.5 seconds, almost as fast as the
E46 generation M3 Coupé.
Using high-precision direct petrol injection, an all aluminium engine and a
pair of turbo-chargers, each assigned to force-feed three cylinders, the new
Twin Turbo engine sets new standards for driving performance and pleasure.
The low inertia turbos spool up much faster than conventional units,
eliminating turbo-lag completely.
A stringent BMW weight-reduction programme, and efficient engine management,
also ensures low fuel consumption. The Twin Turbo engine is 70 kg lighter than a
comparably powerful 4.0-litre eight-cylinder engine.
The lightweight engine ensures the BMW 3 Series Coupé will retain BMW’s famed
50/50 weight distribution for perfectly balanced and entertaining handling.
Thus the 3 Series Coupé is able to comprehensively reset the handling
benchmark at an elevated level far beyond that of potential rivals.
From October, the alluring BMW 3 Series Coupé line-up starts with the 325i
priced at $81,500 in six-speed manual transmission guise.
Standard equipment for the 325i Coupé includes Bi-Xenon headlamps, LED tail
lights, 17-inch light alloy wheels, premium Dakota leather upholstery, BMW
Business navigation system with colour monitor, six-stacker CD player, rear Park
Distance Control, sport seats with electric adjustment and two memory settings
for the driver, automatic climate control, and extended lights package for
interior illumination, cruise control with brake function, and Bluetooth mobile
phone preparation.
From a safety perspective the 325i Coupé covers all the bases with DTC
Dynamic Traction Control, DSC+ Dynamic Stability Control, CBC Cornering Brake
Control, DBC Dynamic Brake Control, and dual front airbags, dual side airbags
and head airbags front and rear.
The 2.5-litre magnesium aluminium straight-six engine produces 160 kW of
power at 6,500 rpm and 250 Nm of torque between 2,750 rpm and 4,000 rpm. The
325i Coupé accelerates to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds.
The 325i Coupé, optionally equipped with a six-speed Steptronic Automatic
transmission, specially adapted for the Coupé models and upgraded to deliver
shift times around 40 percent faster than before, is priced at $84,100.
Further 325i Coupé options include Active Steering, Sport Suspension, 18 or
19-inch light alloy wheels, Comfort Access, Adaptive Headlights, Active Cruise
Control, High Beam Assist, and LOGIC7 sound system.
The 335i Coupé will be available in both six-speed manual and six-speed
automatic transmission guise. The most powerful regular production 3 Series ever
(not including the specialist M3 models) will be priced from $108,500 as a
manual and $111,100 as an automatic.
The 335i out-points its closest rival by having notably more power and
torque, far faster acceleration, lower fuel consumption and a lighter kerb
weight.
Uniquely available to automatic transmission models of the BMW 335i Coupé is
the option for steering wheel mounted shift paddles. These alloy-finished
shifters are priced at $200.
The 335i Coupé standard specification adds the following features over those
of the 325i Coupé: larger front and rear brakes, Sport Suspension, 18-inch light
alloy wheels, Park Distance Control PDC front and rear, front seat lumbar
adjustment, BMW Professional Navigation with 8.8-inch colour monitor and TV and
Voice Recognition functions, HiFi loudspeaker system, High Beam Assist and
Adaptive Headlights.
Both these cars will be in showrooms from October.
Very late in 2006, a further version of the 3 Series Coupé range will become
available in Australia. The 323i will be priced from $69,900 in manual and
$72,500 in automatic transmission guise.
It will be equipped with the same free-revving magnesium aluminium 2.5-litre
engine as fitted to the 323i Sedan and Touring models launched in Australia in
June, albeit in a slightly sportier state of tune.
Compared with its closest rival, the 323i Coupé offers a manual option, more
power for faster acceleration, lower fuel consumption and significantly less
weight which enhances the driving experience considerably.
The new BMW 3 Series Coupé shares no exterior body panels with the very
successful BMW 3 Series Sedan, voted World Car of the Year 2006.
This year BMW has sold more than 250,000 3 Series Sedans underlining its
success as the world’s best compact sports luxury sedan.
BMW expects the new 3 Series Coupé will follow in the wheel tracks of its
exceptionally successful E46 model, which sold more than 460,000 examples over
its seven-year model life.
“The BMW 3 Series Coupé is one of the most sought-after cars in the luxury
market and the new model is already creating a torrent of inquiry,” says Tom
Noble, General Manager, Marketing at BMW Group Australia.
“Its combination of smooth and powerful BMW six-cylinder engines, a sleek,
elegant body and a host of advanced technologies, perfectly meets the needs of
our Coupé customers.
“The 3 Series Coupé is one of those stand-out cars the market understands as
the ultimate expression of sporting style.
“The BMW Coupé is the ultimate expression of pure design, pure performance,
pure driving, and pure heritage.
“The BMW Coupé, especially in Twin Turbo 335i guise, will rewrite the rules
for compact, athletic sporting cars,” Tom says.
2006 BMW 3 Series Coupé.
| Model |
Transmission |
Price |
In Showrooms |
| 323i |
M |
$69,900 |
December |
| 323i |
A |
$72,500 |
December |
| 325i |
M |
$81,500 |
October |
| 325i |
A |
$84,100 |
October |
| 335i |
M |
$108,500 |
October |
| 335i |
A |
$111,100 |
October |
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