[Bimmer_2]

Below is an article extract from Edmonds.com ...

Getting better with every lap
By Ed Hellwig Email


Date posted: 02-09-2006

Of all the cars BMW's engineers get to fling around the Nürburgring test track, we would guess the star of our latest video is one of their favorites. It's the 2008 BMW 3 Series coupe and it's headed for U.S. showrooms sometime in the next 12 months.

Like the 2006 BMW 3 Series sedans, the coupes built their reputation on delivering perfect balance, exceptional steering and suspensions that can make a hero out of anybody. Great engines have always been part of the mix as well, and the next generation of 3 Series coupes won't disappoint. They're likely to make use of BMW's latest line of straight-six engines, so expect to see both 325Ci and 330Ci two-doors in the lineup with 215 hp and 255 hp, respectively.

Good numbers for sure, but BMW isn't stopping there. Various rumors suggest that an even higher horsepower coupe will slot into the lineup above the 330Ci and below the V8-powered M3 expected next year. Most speculation puts the new engine at 3.5 liters with an output of 330 hp thanks to help from a pair of sequential turbochargers. We can only hope that a manual transmission is standard equipment instead of some SMG deal like the M5.

If we're lucky we may see the initial versions of this new BMW coupe as early as this fall, but early next year is the more likely time frame. If the 335i does indeed join the lineup, expect it to lag the base cars by a few months, a tactic that will build up nicely to the introduction of the next-generation M3.

[Bimmer_2]

Here is the link http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=109219#3

[YYimports]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_2

Of all the cars BMW's engineers get to fling around the Nürburgring test track, we would guess the star of our latest video is one of their favorites. It's the 2008 BMW 3 Series coupe and it's headed for U.S. showrooms sometime in the next 12 months.

Jeez Edmunds is kinda behind the times That video was posted here and floated on the internet like 2-3 months ago. Edmunds doesn't know more than sites like e90post knows and probably knows less.. it's more a general car info site. Thanks for sharin tho!

[bimmer4me]

IMO, the 335i has to come to the USA. I can't imagine BMW would build a completely different beast for the 3-series coupe just for North America. There is no debate if BMW is going to offer a 3-series coupe in North America, just when and what. BMW has never fundamentally had two different coupes in two different regions for the same model year. As a matter of fact, I don't think any car manufacturer has ever done that.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by bimmer4me

IMO, the 335i has to come to the USA. I can't imagine BMW would build a completely different beast for the 3-series coupe just for North America.

FYI, The US E36 M3 had engines (1995 S50 3.0 liter - 1996-1999 S52 3.2 liter) that were only offered in the US, elsewhere in the world they got the more expensive Euro version = more power. I was unable to locate US & Euro specs on the S52.

US S50:

240hp @ 6000
Torque:
225lb @ 4250

Euro S50:

286hp @ 7000
Torque:
236lb @ 3600

[bimmer4me]

Originally Posted by SCA

FYI, The US E36 M3 had an engine (1995 S50 3.0 liter - 1996-1999 S52 3.2 liter) that was only offered in the US, elsewhere in the world they got the more expensive Euro version = more power. I was unable to locate US & Euro specs on the S52.

US S50:

240hp @ 6000
Torque:
225lb @ 4250

Euro S50:

286hp @ 7000
Torque:
236lb @ 3600

40 hp and 11 lb of torque is not a completely different beast. IMO, the 335i coupe is coming to America, but the exact details are obviously still unknown.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by bimmer4me

40 hp and 11 lb of torque is not a completely different beast. IMO, the 335i coupe is coming to America, but the exact details are obviously still unknown.

What are you? 40hp is a noticeable difference.


You might as well state that the the N52 does not have any significant gains over the M54.

Edit: Any factory BMW beast = M Car.

[Yaajer]

So is the model lineup going to be:

325/330/335/M3?

or

328/335/m3?

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by lost8found

Jeez Edmunds is kinda behind the times That video was posted here and floated on the internet like 2-3 months ago. Edmunds doesn't know more than sites like e90post knows and probably knows less.. it's more a general car info site. Thanks for sharin tho!

Edmunds journalists probably get their rumors from sites like e90post.

[longtran]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Edmunds journalists probably get their rumors from sites like e90post.

i was thinking the same thing....

[maq]

Originally Posted by SCA

I was unable to locate US & Euro specs on the S52.

Europe never got an S52. Their 96+ cars had the S50B32 with 7500rpm, individual throttle bodies, double-vano and 321hp, basically an early version of the S54. The US S52 (much more similar to the 328's M52) had none of those and power output was unchanged at 240hp.

Originally Posted by bimmer4me

BMW has never fundamentally had two different coupes in two different regions for the same model year. As a matter of fact, I don't think any car manufacturer has ever done that.

BMW has done it many times before, so I won't be surprised if they do it again.

[GoBonesGo]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_2

Most speculation puts the new engine at 3.5 liters with an output of 330 hp thanks to help from a pair of sequential turbochargers.

Well, I guess that settles it. 3.5 liters and twin-turbo. Sweet.

[Brett]

Originally Posted by G35_2_330

Well, I guess that settles it. 3.5 liters and twin-turbo. Sweet.

Uhh if you go by what this guy says your down right crazy . Lets start with the most obvoius error, you can do the rest of the work yourself . Figured I would make it easy and bold it for you:

Originally Posted by Article

It's the 2008 BMW 3 Series coupe and it's headed for U.S. showrooms sometime in the next 12 months.

-Brett

[IDENTITY_MOTORSPORTS]

i think the 325/330 will stay and add 335/m3. the 325 has always been the key 3 series for a while....

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by IDENTITY_MOTORSPORTS

i think the 325/330 will stay and add 335/m3. the 325 has always been the key 3 series for a while....

No, it hasn't.

[stressdoc]

Edmunds has lost what little credibility they had in regard to predictions about future models. The one issue that concerns me is the possibility that BMWNA would release a 335 E92, but not a 335 E90. I can see it if the E92 comes out for summer, and then transitioning the E90 in sept. I can also see the 335 bi-turbo as a special, added to the 325/330 line-up. If they want to deal seriously with the IS350 and upcoming Audi & MB models, BMWNA should move to the 323/328/335 line-up. And bring the diesels and Euro options like M-pack.

[EnI]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Edmunds has lost what little credibility they had in regard to predictions about future models. The one issue that concerns me is the possibility that BMWNA would release a 335 E92, but not a 335 E90. I can see it if the E92 comes out for summer, and then transitioning the E90 in sept. I can also see the 335 bi-turbo as a special, added to the 325/330 line-up. If they want to deal seriously with the IS350 and upcoming Audi & MB models, BMWNA should move to the 323/328/335 line-up. And bring the diesels and Euro options like M-pack.

Internet says:

BMW see 335i as a bridge to M3. And additional model above 330i. Europe will see that.
US is a specific market - 3er offered only with I6 engines (in Europe 6-cylindre engines bring just a friction of a 3er sales). Therefore BMW AG (on BMW NA wish / demand) could be forced to introduce 328/335 configuration instead of 325/330/335 - with 335 being much cheaper than planned. But in this case a "bridge" plan falls completely. A big dilema for AG. Development costs were high, money have to be brought back.

A solution in this case? Tweaking US version of 335 to output less HP than "Euro version". Introducing higher output later as "si" with other goodies such as ZSG gearbox, sport package only etc. Offering Coupe from the begining as high output "si" version only, with no low output "i" version from sedan.

Nothing yet decided. Marketing experts at BMW having big headaches these days.

But that's only what internet is saying. Could be rumours.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by GregA

Internet says:

BMW see 335i as a bridge to M3. And additional model above 330i. Europe will see that.
US is a specific market - 3er offered only with I6 engines (in Europe 6-cylindre engines bring just a friction of a 3er sales). Therefore BMW AG (on BMW NA wish / demand) could be forced to introduce 328/335 configuration instead of 325/330/335 - with 335 being much cheaper than planned. But in this case a "bridge" plan falls completely. A big dilema for AG. Development costs were high, money have to be brought back.

A solution in this case? Tweaking US version of 335 to output less HP than "Euro version". Introducing higher output later as "si" with other goodies such as ZSG gearbox, sport package only etc. Offering Coupe from the begining as high output "si" version only, with no low output "i" version from sedan.

Nothing yet decided. Marketing experts at BMW having big headaches these days.

But that's only what internet is saying. Could be rumours.

DO you have a link for this info?

[user1]

Originally Posted by GregA

Internet says:
...
But that's only what internet is saying. Could be rumours.

Who is Internet? You are naming a technology as your source? You can post links unless this is just your own thoughts.

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by bimmer4me

40 hp and 11 lb of torque is not a completely different beast. IMO, the 335i coupe is coming to America, but the exact details are obviously still unknown.

hmm. try raising your 330i's power level 40hp/11lb up.

[stressdoc]

GregA's comment sounds reasonable to me. I would be having trouble sleeping if I worked at BMW NA -- quite the decisions to be made. As I see it, the 325-330-335 line-up is difficult because the 330 only gets about 20-25% of sales now. Put in a 335 and that would shrink a bit, with potential 330 buyers opting for 335. The problem lies in pulling sales from Lexus, and I think that requires a main-line (i.e., not a specialty sports version) model like the current 330. No doubt BMW is losing customers to Lexus based on the significant acceleration difference. Like many listmembers here, I am lusting after a lightweight, M-pack 335si. But that is not the mainstream model that will exclude the IS350 from claiming a bigger share of the sports/luxury sedan market. I think releasing the 335 in E92 form only in the USA will prove to be a long range marketing disaster. The competition (Lexus, Infinity, Audi, Acura, MB) has four door models with more potent engines than the 330.

[akhbhaat]

What is the point of putting together a sizable R&D budget to develop a "bridge" to the M3? That makes it sound as though the M3 is a mainstream, high volume model, like the 5 series. No, it's a niche market car, with sales greatly limited by the number of engines BMW can crank out.

Problem with "bridge" models is that they're prohibitively expensive (or simply a bad buy in terms of value) for the more mainstream consumer, but for everyone else it looks silly not to drop the hammer and go just a little bit further for the M3 itself. I just don't see them selling that many of them with that strategy unless the M3 has no sedan variant and the "bridge" does (otherwise you split demand between them). Even then, the market wouldn't jump all over it and it would turn out to be relatively low volume - difficult to justify the R&D expense, unless each individual unit carries a massive profit margin. But in that case, why not just sell it for less and have a greater gross total (considering how elastic demand tends to be in the extremely competitive automobile market)?

I don't know what BMW spent to develop the N54 engine, and I don't know precisely what sort of profit per unit they have currently, but simple economics suggest that the idea of having a regular 335i and an upgraded 335si with a bunch of exclusive goodies bundled in (think ZHP) makes a lot more sense. No doubt there's some serious debate going on within BMWNA's marketing department.