AUTO SPIES EXCLUSIVE: MUST READ: Full BMW 3-Series coupe marketing presentation

UGLY UGLY UGLY

60K for that taillights, headlights and ugly interior?

Bangle on cracks !

Nice fuel economy. I guess Audi technology works well on BMW as well.

Nice... Another gold for BMW

Sweet ride... If only people would realise that the tail lights came from the 7-series.....

Audi wasn't the first to implement DFI or FSI as they call it. It was Mistubishi some 10 years ago.

I think the car and car company with the "perennial firsts" is the Mercedes S Class. Airbags, ABS, 3-point seatbelt, GPS Navigation etc. Now imagine if car companies were hard pressed to "copy" one another companies. Where would auto technology be today?

Thanks Agent 001. Great article. Another winner from BMW!

They are using turbos due they were not able to create a natural aspiration engine with the power of the IS350 with 306hp; imagine whit turbos. Most of turbo engines coming from BMW are realy bad. BMW should stay with natural aspiration only. Or ask for some help from the experts: Porsche or even AMG. This car will not be on market for to much. Must of the people will buy the next M3 or the 328 but not a weak turbo exercise with less power than a Japanese IS350, If you buy a car just the brand or dynamic driving is not longer enough for the new people. My favorites cars in the World re MB and Bimers but if they do not improve their products, they will continue loosing market. Now is just USA. Next will be europe and Latin America.

It is a nice looking car but still lacks quality and dependibility and for that price yeah right I'd take lexus anyday over that

335i is great, but they should have used the I-6 3.2 from the E46 M3... that would kicked major butt...

Lexlover,

Some of us prefer to shift ourselves. We also prefer a stiffer suspension and tighter chassis. But I guess we just enjoy driving more.

This car is simply amazing....BMW has done it again. This car and the X5 are a thing of beauty. Thank You Agent 001.

BMW Expert--YOU TELL HIM WHATS UP!!!!!! :) These kids here churning on Rice Burners like they are their own original products. (and not copies of everything under the sun)
Dont pay attention to kids, and the adults that think like them

BMWexpert: Read. 300hp 300lb-ft in TwinTurbo Dress against 306hp 277lb-ft non turbo. Imagine Whit trubo. Japanese are doing goog. What I do not know is if a IS350 willbe able to stand 4 hours at top speed like you can do in any Merc or Bimer. The main Issue with Japanese is the durability of the engines under a heavy foot like mine and may be yours. But that was before and they are getting better, so just the the time will let us know but for now, just a blind emotional person will not admit that Lexus is doing great. For now I will continue loyal to Merc and Bimers in the future, You or me , we have no idea if the Big Japanese companies will buy Merc (20,000 millions) or BMW (17000 millions).

kablaam

Audi was the first to use direct injection and turbos, Pontiac with the Solstice was the second, BMW was third.
MDalle
Why mention engines that don't belong in the discussion, that makes you sound like a loser.

Yonder7.....

Guy you are dreaming if you believe for one second that Lexus N/A 3.6 liter 306hp 277lb-ft will even compare to BMW new 3.0 liter twin turbo 300hp 300lb-ft. BMW's new engine will preform on par with a V8 engine.

The reason why BMW decided on the turbo is because of weight issues. BMW has the right formula. Mark my words all the Japanese manufacture will follow BMW lead.

Come on guys, leave Audi out of this one... pick on the Japs...

BMW used a turbo on the 335i because its more fuel efficent. NOT because they couldnt compet with the japs. PLUS, the IS350 is 3.5l while the 335i is 3l. BMW wins again!

GDi: Gasoline Direct injection. A highly efficient petrol injection method originally devised by Mitsubishi (some way ahead of VW’s FSI and others), which improves both power and economy by using different combustion modes for different engine load conditions, and by varying injection timing.

http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/news_events/member_news/NZConf/10a.asp

http://cars.uk.msn.com/Buyers_Guide/article.aspx?cp-documentid=474652

The whole point I'm trying to make is competition is good and if car companies didn't "COPY" one another, we wouldn't have cars with GDI, ABS, GPS, Xenon's or even 3point seatbelts!!! "COPYING" isn't a bad thing. If so audi, much like every other car company in the world is a prime suspect.

BMW's are great cars, Audi's are great cars, heck Mitsubishi makes some great cars, each tailor to their market and obviously will not appeal to everyone's liking. If you want sport sport, get a lotus elise, ferrari, or corvette zo6, if you want luxury get a benz, rolls, or bently, if you want a compromise get a BMW, if you want a bit more safety and traction for bad weather, get an Audi.

There is no use argueing over this because no one will ever win :-)

Safe driving.

Rafael Seidl comments that “BMW, VW / Audi and Mercedes all have turbocharged GDI engines on the market. Even Opel, GM’s German subsidiary, has a good 2.2L turbocharged GDI design.” Patrick then observes that “Mitsubishi beat everyone to market with a turbo GDI engine in 2000. 4G93T 1.8L DOHC, GDI, Turbo, 10.5:1 static CR and 165hp.”


http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/?p=1758

ok here's my take The BMW and the IS350 Weight EXACTLY the same, therefore the advantage goes to the n/a car.
Turbochargers are great, don't get me wrong but from a performance standpoint it is usually better to get your horsepower from the engine rather than forced induction. For those who have no idea how a turbocharger works at spoolup (usually around 2000-3500 rpm) the impeller sucks in and compresses more are so additional fuel can be burned causing greater pressure on the pistons hence more power. The downside is that from a dead stop the turbo is actually hampering the normal flow of air throug the intake hence turbo lag(that is untill spoolup)This can be limited but not completely removed (you can for instance use superlight impellers to reduce inertia) Now turbos do have their place, for instance if you wish to achieve greater horspower/liter then a turbo is the way to go.(so instead of throwing in a 6.2 liter V8 to achieve 400hp you can do it in 3.5 liters on a v6)Since a big V8 weighs considerably more than a small v6 the power to weight ratio swings to the turbo car.

On a side note "Performance" is all about power to weight ratios. For instance A Lotus Exige would decimate an m3 on a road course, even with only 190hp because it is light and has less inertia to throw around the corners, It would accelerate faster and just generally drive better. However the BMW would catch it in a LONG straight line.

Before eveyone starts complaining about The BMW having this toy and IS350 having that one and that because it has this or that it's faster for having it. Realize I personally have driven LOTS of BMWs. Recently including the E46 M3, the E46 33ci, Many variations of the m5, X5, Z3(the M roadster was a helluva car), Z8, and even A couple of the older 12cyl, and I have to say that The new 3 series has a ton of ground to make up before its nearly as fun ans some Japanese imports.
I have not driven the IS350, But except for weight it is Very similar to my 350Z. Which in stock trim weighs about 300lbs less than either of them. Generates 300hp
and in stock trim destroyed my buddies M3 on a road course.
If its all about performance then get a sports car. If you want a big trunk and room for the kids then get a BMW. Bitching about Lexus vs BMW Is moot since the G35 does everything they do but better!