Extension of the Human Spirit
Elusive and few are the days when the drive into the office is just too short. This week was comprised of five of them.
Retractable hardtop reinvents the 335i
Residency on Canada's "wet" coast isn't particularly well suited to convertible ownership unless one is willing to contend with cloud cover and atmospheric moisture. The emerging popularity of retractable hardtop roofs has made such elements easier to contend with, without compromising the joy of full-on wind and sun.
Of all the retractables out there, I'm not sure any match the beauty and brawn of the 335i's sophisticated lid. Watching it in action is to witness mechanical engineering at its finest. To experience it above one's head is to be deluded into believing a conventional hardtop holds inclemency at bay. The best of both worlds have been fused together by Edscha, creator of the 335i's 3-panel wonder.
No unlatching is required to raise or lower the steel shelter. It's simply activated by a push/pull button located on the centre console. Twenty-two seconds later, the 335i exhibits sinfully appealing openness or stunning coupe-like sleekness. When retracted, the stowed roof is hidden by a solid tonneau cover, which seamlessly unites bodywork with cabin architecture.
Rolling rigidity
Convertibles, especially those large enough to encompass a realistic rear seat, often suffer from excessive cowl shake brought on by a lack of structural rigidity. This is not the case in BMW's 3-Series Cabriolet. I was very impressed with the solidity the 335i exhibited on all road surfaces- roof up and roof down. Such cohesiveness translates into a vehicle free of shake, rattle and roll to quote Bill Haley and His Comets; and nothing imparts a sense of quality more than that.
More I-6 growl
The 335i Cabriolet is powered by BMW's magnificent, brutally strong, twin-turbocharged DOHC 3.0-litre 24-valve inline-six that cooks with 300 horsepower @ 5,800-rpm and 300 pound-feet of torque @ only 1,400-rpm. From 2,000-rpm onward, this engine pulls relentlessly while generating a redline howl more commanding than an F-16 with afterburners engaged- or thereabouts. BMW data cites a 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) sprint time of just 5.8 seconds with the manual box.
Elusive and few are the days when the drive into the office is just too short. This week was comprised of five of them.
Retractable hardtop reinvents the 335i
Residency on Canada's "wet" coast isn't particularly well suited to convertible ownership unless one is willing to contend with cloud cover and atmospheric moisture. The emerging popularity of retractable hardtop roofs has made such elements easier to contend with, without compromising the joy of full-on wind and sun.
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| The retractable hardtop is better suited to Canadian climate. |
Of all the retractables out there, I'm not sure any match the beauty and brawn of the 335i's sophisticated lid. Watching it in action is to witness mechanical engineering at its finest. To experience it above one's head is to be deluded into believing a conventional hardtop holds inclemency at bay. The best of both worlds have been fused together by Edscha, creator of the 335i's 3-panel wonder.
No unlatching is required to raise or lower the steel shelter. It's simply activated by a push/pull button located on the centre console. Twenty-two seconds later, the 335i exhibits sinfully appealing openness or stunning coupe-like sleekness. When retracted, the stowed roof is hidden by a solid tonneau cover, which seamlessly unites bodywork with cabin architecture.
Rolling rigidity
Convertibles, especially those large enough to encompass a realistic rear seat, often suffer from excessive cowl shake brought on by a lack of structural rigidity. This is not the case in BMW's 3-Series Cabriolet. I was very impressed with the solidity the 335i exhibited on all road surfaces- roof up and roof down. Such cohesiveness translates into a vehicle free of shake, rattle and roll to quote Bill Haley and His Comets; and nothing imparts a sense of quality more than that.
More I-6 growl
The 335i Cabriolet is powered by BMW's magnificent, brutally strong, twin-turbocharged DOHC 3.0-litre 24-valve inline-six that cooks with 300 horsepower @ 5,800-rpm and 300 pound-feet of torque @ only 1,400-rpm. From 2,000-rpm onward, this engine pulls relentlessly while generating a redline howl more commanding than an F-16 with afterburners engaged- or thereabouts. BMW data cites a 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) sprint time of just 5.8 seconds with the manual box.
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| This engine is absolutely praiseworthy. |