BMW 3-Series

Evolution, not a revolution.  Those words echo the benchmark sedan of this category; namely, the BMW 328i.  The exterior design alone is evident of BMW's strategy not to stray away from the family look.  The facia of the new 3-series echoes the lines of the 'curvy-edged' design of its bigger brother, the 5-series.  Being evolutionary doesn't mean being a dinosaur that could fly compared to a dinosaur that couldn't.  BMW's 3-series is a huge step in the right direction (for BMW at least) to making the 'ultimate driving machine'.  Although those words may seem a bit clichéd, BMW has already introduced dozens of nifty features as standard for the 3-series to cement its claim versus rivals like the Audi A4 and Alfa Romeo 156.

The centerpiece of all these changes is the engine.  Still employing the use of the old inline-6 engine, which has already won the acclaim and respect of not just the automotive enthusiasts, but engine specialists such as WARDS Auto World, heavy revisions have been done to improve power and torque delivery.  So how did BMW do such a feat?  Through the use of VANOS technology.  Without having to explain the acronym, the VANOS technology is essentially a process wherein airflow is optimized inside the engine through different airflow channels to improve horsepower and torque ratings.  BMW has two kinds of VANOS systems already operating within their line-ups.  The new 3-series uses the more civilized single VANOS system, meaning only the engine airflow is controlled, for the more power hungry like the BMW M5, it uses the double VANOS system, where the exhaust airflow is controlled as well.  In the end, the 2.8-liter inline-6 engine produces 193-bhp and 286 Nm of torque.

The sweet and smooth BMW inline-6 engine is matted to a choice of a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic gearbox.  The 5-speed manual is already known for its diamond-cut precision as a driving tool.  On the other hand, the 5-speed automatic features something usually found on the higher level BMWs: steptronic transmission.  The steptronic works much like Mitsubishi's INVECS-II.  It's essentially an automatic gearbox with a manual selector.  For those interested in automotive facts: the BMW steptronic feature was the first such feature to be brought into the Philippine market by an official car distributor.

An evolution rather than a revolution is the philosophy behind the 3-series. In fact, from this angle it's hard to tell if this car is the 5-series or the 3-series. However, notice the cut-outs underneath the headlamps...this is the 3-series. Details also abound like the piston shaped lamp clusters.
The new 3-series looks beefier and sportier than the previous model. Although it may share some of its shape with the bigger 5-series, the 3-series has an excellent profile shouting out the message: sporty, yet dignified.