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July 21, 2010
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2011 BMW 335is
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Back in January of this year I was one of the first lucky journalists in the world to pilot the new BMW 335is at the historic Circuit de Estoril just outside of Lisbon, Portugal. I did not get a chance to drive it on the street then, but here we are almost six months later, and I finally get to pilot a car I absolutely loved on the track as if it was my own — if only for a week.
Starting with a base price of $58,800, the 335is is not by any means inexpensive, but it should be more exclusive than the numerous “plain” 335 coupes on the streets. Think of it like a tuner vehicle done tastefully at the factory, with full warranty.
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The “s” in the car’s designation adds 20 extra horsepower to the standard turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine and an extra 30 lb-ft of torque, giving nice round numbers of 320hp and 330lb-ft. Unlike other 335 models the 335is retains the twin-turbo N54 engine, rather than the new N55 engine with its single twin-scroll turbocharger.
Those are not the only changes for the “s,” which are numerous. Starting with the chassis: BMW stiffened the engine mounting system to ensure less noise and vibration, as well as taming the extra power under the hood.
The body is slightly different as well: from the front, the most notable difference is the high-gloss black wing mirrors, which add to the imposing character of the vehicle. The side mouldings have a slightly different shape than the standard 335i’s, and the rear is differentiated by a body-coloured diffuser that helps improve aerodynamics. There is also the special “is” badging.
My tester is fully, or at least near fully-equipped from what I can tell; despite the $58,800 MSRP my tester comes in nearly $10,000 higher after adding: navigation ($2,000), Executive package ($3,900) and the seven speed dual-clutch transmission ($1,950).
2011 BMW 335is
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $67,450
For more information on BMW and the 3-series visit BMW Canada
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