On a freezing day in Munich we tried the 335i coupe, which is equipped with a new version of BMW's classic turbocharged straight-six engine and, in the case of our test car, a new seven-speed double clutch gearbox that adds £1640 to the list price.
With 302bhp on tap and a diesel-like 295lb ft of torque (delivered completely flat from 1200rpm to 5000rpm), the 335i's performance is predictably impressive. However, our car's engine was a touch gruff under hard acceleration; it's not clear whether the direct injection system or just engine tightness was to blame.
The seven-speed dual-clutch 'box is excellent, being pretty indistinguishable from BMW's smooth auto boxes and avoiding the low-speed hesitation that affects VW's seven-speed DSG unit.
Our car suffered from quite a bit of wind noise around the pillars and the overly heavy controls (especially the steering) made rowing the car along a tiny bit of a chore.
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