Design
Sharing only its door handles with its four-door sibling, the 3 Series Coupe features slim headlights, wide taillights, and a chiseled body meant to impart sport and elegance.
Talk to a BMW designer and you’ll quickly learn that the 2007 3 Series Coupe shares but one exterior component with its four-door counterpart: the door handles. Given the different body styles, that may not seem terribly significant, yet consider that even the details have been tweaked for the Coupe. For example, the wide taillights with their horizontal LED displays are unique, the headlights have been slimmed down with the now familiar rings serving as daytime running lamps, and the front fenders are constructed from a plastic composite to save weight. In company terms, what the public may see as a sleek body with artful side creases and a pronounced power dome hood is a “flowing silhouette with large prominent wheel wells and a sleek and elegant roof line.” However you put it, the fact is the redesigned 3 Series Coupe is a looker. Except, possibly, for the rear chrome exhaust tips on the 335i – from certain perspectives, they appear a bit long and lack a tapered contour to blend in with the curved lower fascia. Interior design is a fine example of concise precision. Controls are clear and logically placed; the materials, from the upholstery to the real aluminum or wood trim, feels top-notch; and all controls are within easy reach. Most plastics are padded or at least soft-touch, the doors feature fold-out lined pockets suitable for a variety of items such as wallets and cell phones, and there’s even an electronic arm housed in the rear side panel that extends the front passenger seatbelts to within easy reach. Front seat comfort is a plus, aided by multi-adjustable buckets, plenty of room, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and padded armrests and door sills. Rear seat comfort is acceptable for a coupe, though access is somewhat hampered by front seats that don’t automatically slide forward. Once seated, riders in back will appreciate the supportive buckets, fold-down center armrest, and generous headroom, though they just might offer some complaints about the limited knee and foot room, not to mention the hard seatbacks.
|
