There are a legion of ardent BMW M3 fans, but not every BMW enthusiast wants or can justify the added cost of a hyper-performance M3 over a still-quick 335i.
So this year, BMW is introducing a sport-oriented two-door that looks closer to the M3, feels closer to the M3 in a straight line, but is still a little comfier on the road and to the wallet.
When it arrives this spring, the 335is will give those considering a 335i coupe or convertible some extra power to play with, a more aggressive look and the M3's dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with launch control, all with fuel economy numbers the same as a regular 335i.
Looks-wise, the 335is coupe looks and is closer to a 3-Series coupe than an M3, but does share some M3 touches that tweak up the aggression quotient.
The 335is comes with smoked grey wheels similar to the M3, but of a different design, an arguably sharper twin-spoke, five-star design that BMW says are exclusive to the 335is, with 19-inch M wheels available as an option.
Dual exhaust outlets are shared with other 335 models, but M3 spotters will note it's not the same quad-tip setup, nor does the 335is offer the ultra-trick carbon-fibre roof of the M3 coupe.
But the 335is coupe does remove the fog lights from the front lower bumper opening, just like the M3, to provide extra engine cooling at high speeds and pretty much the same menacing face.
The less extreme and heavier convertible keeps the fogs and the folding hardtop that will likely prevent it from seeing any track duty. Although the drop-top is scheduled to arrive first - April for the convertible versus June for the coupe - BMW provided a half-day of track-only seat time in the coupe at the former Formula One circuit in Estoril, north of Lisbon.
Under the 335is hood is a more powerful version of the twin turbocharged, straight-six 3.0-litre engine (the 335i models are switching to a single turbo setup for 2011). How much more powerful is where things start to get interesting. The official figures are 320 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, with an overboost capability that boosts torque to 370 for up to seven seconds at a time, before engine preservation controls kick in to cut the boost back down.
A BMW official said the engine is identical to the one in the similarly new for 2011 Z4 35is with the DCT, which is officially listed at 335 hp, or more power than the last-generation M3. However, BMW didn't want to confuse buyers by listing two horsepower figures, the official said.
Inside the 2011 BMW 335is
The manual six-speed transmission has a tougher time coping with the extra power than the M3-derived seven-speed DCT. Other BMW folks quickly played down, if not outright disagreed with, this differing power assessment, but the similar overboost and torque totals of the 'is' versions of this car and the DCT-only Z4 suggest that the 335is DCT's 320-hp rating may be a touch conservative.
Driving both on the track, the DCT didn't feel any quicker than the sweet six-speed box; in fact, the opposite was true, especially in the comfort-oriented automatic mode. The DCT in the manual setting is undoubtedly quicker around a racetrack, with faster shifts both up and down courtesy of the new left and right up and down shift paddles, and no worry about clumsy heel-and-toe efforts. Yet there is still a primal appeal to the manual that defies logic.
Sure, the lack of a launch control system means slightly slower acceleration and increased fuel consumption for the manual, not to mention giving up the thoroughly convenient option of just placing the transmission in D in heavy traffic.
The clutch and shifter are so smooth, with pedals so easy to manipulate at one time with your right foot, it seems like all one needs is a bit more practice at this heel-and-toe business and you could match the computer in speed and smoothness - but really, you can't.
Handling is surprisingly composed, both under braking from high speeds and with initial turn-in. The Macpherson strut steering does not quite offer the super clear feedback that the double wishbone suspension in the new 5-Series big brother does, but it's close. Body roll is less, however, and the more powerful engine in a smaller and lighter body does make it seem more spirited than the 5-Series.
Power in the 335is peaks at 5,900 rpm, and a sharp mechanical resonance permeates the body between there and its 7,000-rpm redline, leaving little incentive to venture that high up the rev range, outside of the sport-tuned exhaust bellowing in your ear at high rpm.
The manufacturer-supplied 0-100 km/h time in the DCT and launch control-equipped coupe is 5.3 seconds, just a tenth slower than the manual. A manual 335i coupe is listed at 5.6 seconds - 5.8 for the automatic.
Performance enthusiasts may not mythologize the 335is in quite the same way as the M3, but as a less pricey and more practical alternative, it still holds a lot of speedy appeal. Plus it gives BMW a more reasonably priced but still aggressively styled rival to the likes of the Infiniti G37 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupes.
2011 BMW 335is COUPE
Type: Two-door luxury sports coupe
Base price: Not available
Engine: 3.0-litre, twin turbo, inline-six-cylinder, DOHC
Horsepower/torque: 320 hp/332 lb-ft (overboost to 370 lb-ft)
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Drive: Rear-wheel-drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): (estimated) 11.9 city/7.7 highway; premium recommended
Alternatives: BMW 135i, Cadillac CTS Coupe, Infiniti G37 Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
LIKE: M3-like looks without punishing handling and price; first non-M 3 available with impressive DCT paddle shifters; refined character even at elevated speeds, mostly
DON'T LIKE: Grating engine sound above 6,000 rpm to redline; not as swoopy or stylish as some rivals
