BMW adding all-wheel drive to 3-series coupe
Reports are coming in that BMW will be launching an all-wheel-drive 335xi Coupe sometime in the first half of next year. It will be the first time all four wheels will be powered on a 3-Series coupe, and the car will stand as a direct competitor to Audi's A5 Quattro coupe. Being coupled with BMW's 300-hp twin-turbo inline-six means the 335xi Coupe can reach 60 mph in 5.2 seconds for the manual version (0.1 second quicker than the RWD model) and 5.3 seconds for the automatic (0.2 seconds quicker than the RWD model). It turns out the additional traction more than compensates for the extra weight of BMW's xDrive AWD system. We hear the base price will be $42,600, which we assume is in USD since it falls right above the $40,800 starting price of the 335i (shown) in the U.S.
[Source: edBMWBlog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nick 7:31PM (8/16/2007)
I still feel like buying a BMW sedan or coupe with 4 wheel drive is betraying the purpose of the car. Sporting RWD is what BMW is about, the 4 wheel drive stuff is an afterthought for them.... Not like Audi or Subaru, who design for 4wd.
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Shevket 8:03PM (8/16/2007)
x-Drive is 100% RWD on a dry road. It will start forwarding the power to the front wheels only when needed. So it still has the RWD feel (except the 100lbs of extra weight)
BartMack 7:34PM (8/16/2007)
knock knock HELLLOOOOOOO..... anybody paying attention? Can U say 328xi coupe? Fer sale nowish? Like sitting on lot at local BMW-type dealer?? yeah.. really!
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dantecesa 8:13PM (8/16/2007)
+1 BartMack is right.
And BMW told us all along that the 335xi was on its way - just that it would be coming later...
Perhaps what John Neff meant, is that E92 is the first time BMW has put xDrive in its coupe lineup...
Haudi 7:40PM (8/16/2007)
BartMack is right. This is not news. The only thing new about this is that up until now, you could only get AWD on the 328, not the 335.
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Cristina Vatasoiu 2:34AM (8/17/2007)
I think the article is referring to the 335xi only, so that is news, because BMW has never announced officially when the production will start, we all assumed it will be 2008, but nothing was certain. Also, there was no info on the pricing, so that's another good news since the price seems to be reasonable. Also, I like the fact that BMW has included the 0-60 comparison between the 335i and 335xi.
Anyway, good job John, I love your blog even though I might be one of the few women that reads it :)
BartMack 7:47PM (8/16/2007)
I still love Autoblog though, don't get me wrong- can't make it thru a day without you guys =)
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why not the LS2/LS7? 7:55PM (8/16/2007)
Because of the packaging of the AWD (how the front half-shaft passes through the oil pan), it has typically not been possible to get the sport suspension on the xi series vehicles. This is true of the current sedans still.
The coupes typically come with the sport suspension standard, but checking the 328xi coupe versus 328i coupe, the 328xi is 0.8 inches higher, indicating it doesn't have the sport suspension. Likely this is true of the 335xi couple also.
So the AWD may make up for its own weight in a straight line, but the weight and height and non-sport suspension are all going to be working against you around bends.
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BartMack 8:23PM (8/16/2007)
Very interesting observation-! I remember reading an article about how BMWUSA chose to provide the sport suspension standard on all US-bound 3 series coupes... there was no mention of an exception for the xi version as I recall. Nice catch!
Mike 8:44PM (8/16/2007)
That was the first question that popped into my mind when I saw this post actually:
Will the drive shaft still be passing through the oil pan on this new model? I remember hearing alot of reports when the xi first came out about the seals around the shaft leaking oil and bearings failing. Does anyone know if this is still the case?
Preston M 8:15PM (8/16/2007)
If you could put 100% of the torque to the rear wheels, i'd be down. Weight wouldn't be that horrible and come winter it would be welcome.
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Nick 1:14AM (8/17/2007)
Just get an Audi.
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Asa 8:53PM (8/16/2007)
Does no one else remember the E30 325ix? It was the same as the 325is just 4wd(with a true transfer case to boot). So I would say that is a FAIL.
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Jason 9:24PM (8/16/2007)
I have definitely seen a BMW 328Xi and BMW 335Xi coupe on the road in Highlands Ranch Colorado. I saw the 328Xi coupe today and I saw a 335Xi Coupe two days ago.
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5-oh my goodness 3:12PM (8/22/2007)
Very right gents... the 3 series has had a 3__ix model since the 90's. In car crazy Newport Beach you see everything. I've seen quite a few silverback Coloradans on vacation from the snow here and a few older ix models. Unless they were all grey market, this post is not news. But AWD and two turbos with a prop on the bonnet... i'll take mine rally-spec with Castrol colors...
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Tucker 10:43PM (8/16/2007)
Yeah, sorry. The original 325ix (in 1986, or so) was a coupe. There is currently for sale a 328xi coupe. It's nice that there's a 335xi coupe for sale, but it's not a first (check the BMW website, you can spec one out today).
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Toy Yoda 10:48PM (8/16/2007)
I wonder if that means there will also be an AWD 6-series coming too?
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ageedoy 11:00PM (8/16/2007)
6-speed twin-turbo inline 6 with awd? Sounds very reminiscent of a previous-gen Japanese 'supercar'...
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Asa 12:28AM (8/17/2007)
I didn't even think of that....Finally something we can all get behind. Too bad I already have my heart set on a 135
why not the LS2/LS7? 3:07AM (8/17/2007)
You could have bought an S4 in 1999 with these specs.
Twin-turbo V6. 6-speed. AWD.