All About BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible 

The new design of the taillights is unique to the 3 Series The end result is the same 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque as before, but with a fatter torque curve that maintains its peak from 1,200-5,000 rpm. The N55 also gets direct fuel injection. On the intake side, the throttle is eliminated thanks to the addition of BMW's Valvetronic variable valve control system.

 BMW also claims it has reduced cold-start emissions by routing all the exhaust gases through a single, larger catalytic converter that heats up faster. This is expected to reduce the turbo lag that some drivers complained about with the outgoing twin turbo setup. The twin scroll turbo has dual exhaust inlets that allow the engineers to better balance the pulses coming in to spin up the turbine faster. The revised engine, dubbed N55, has recently been launched in the 740i and the 535i Gran Turismo. The most significant updates come underhood, where the much lauded twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six is being replaced by a new single turbo version.

 The 3 Series coupe will now be offered with xDrive all-wheel drive, while the 3 Series convertible gets a new solar reflective leather upholstery that BMW claims helps keep seat temperatures down when the lid is open. At the rear, the taillamps retain the same shape, but the reflectors are redesigned with some of the light-pipe styling found in other recent Bimmers. The most immediately noticeable change are headlamp clusters that get a subtle reshaping to go along with a wider grille and reworked lower front fascia. Yet the Munich brand isn't sitting on its hands in the meantime – the current 3 Series coupe and convertible are getting a mild refresh and updated powerplants this spring for the 2011 model year.

 The next-generation BMW 3 Series isn't that far off, with the sports sedan expected to debut sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model. BMW says that this new treatment is able to reduce surface temperatures on dark interior colors by up to 20 Celsius degrees (36 Fahrenheit degrees) and by as much as Celsius degrees (27 Fahrenheit degrees)on light-colored upholstery. The only change in the cabin concerns the convertible models and the use of sun-reflective technology to mitigate temperatures on leather seating, armrest surfaces, headrests, and gear shifter. The most notable - that is, if you're a hardcore bimmer fan- changes on the outside concern the widened kidney grille, reshaped LED headlamps, front and rear bumpers with restyled lower fascias, new exterior mirrors and finally, reworked tail light cluster with a new color scheme.

 For the 2011 model year, the Bavarian automaker's bread-and-butter coupe and cabriolet models receive some minor cosmetic touches and updated powerplants.  A little after a leaked brochure gave us our first taste of the lightly refreshed 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models, BMW rushed out an official release and a whole bunch of pictures.


2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible

 

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