Bring on the torque
Don’t forget, under the hood of the 135i slumbers a 3.0-litre inline 6. This is a twin-turbo puppy boasting 300 hp and as much foot-pounds of torque, which it deploys in its entirety as early as 1,400 rpm! As you can imagine, this car is very fun to drive, even in heavy traffic.
The engine is more responsive than the naturally-aspirated, 3.0-litre inline 6 powering the 128i, even though the latter has 230 ponies at its disposal to move a car 55 kilos lighter. However, the twin turbochargers and different cylinder bloc configuration give the 135i a decidedly sportier edge.
In fact, the mill allows for some impressive, but progressive, acceleration. Barely 5.4 seconds will see you past the 100 km/h mark, one second less than the 128i with manual transmission.
Braking is on par with engine performance. It’s handled by four wheel disc brakes that are larger than those of the 128i and as precise as the steering system. Simply delightful.
A gas guzzler, you reckon?
Some will say this twin-turbo is mighty thirsty. During our road tests conducted both in the city and the country, we recorded an average consumption rating of 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres (of premium fuel).
That’s still slightly lower than what the competitors manage. In any case, fuel consumption is undoubtedly low on the list of priorities of sports car buyers.
However, they do expect the car to communicate a nice sense of security. It sports a blue and white badge, after all. But in this regard the 135i, like all rear-wheel-drive sports cars, suffers from a split personality. On dry pavement, the well-distributed mass (52.3% in front and 47.7% in back) helps optimize rear-wheel traction. On wet or snow-covered pavement, with so much power dispatched to the rear wheels the BMW quickly transforms into a sled-like contraption. Its traction control system kicks in regularly to limit the rear end’s shenanigans. But to be on the safe side you’ll take out your trusty X3.
In short, the 135i represents a logical alternative to the refined Japanese sport coupes and an exclusive offering among the European contenders with its powerful engine. And for those who might be interested, by shelling out an extra $6,000 you can enjoy wind-in-your-hair convertible driving backed up by as much muscle. A true gem, I tell you!
photo:Matthieu Lambert
Don’t forget, under the hood of the 135i slumbers a 3.0-litre inline 6. This is a twin-turbo puppy boasting 300 hp and as much foot-pounds of torque, which it deploys in its entirety as early as 1,400 rpm! As you can imagine, this car is very fun to drive, even in heavy traffic.
The engine is more responsive than the naturally-aspirated, 3.0-litre inline 6 powering the 128i, even though the latter has 230 ponies at its disposal to move a car 55 kilos lighter. However, the twin turbochargers and different cylinder bloc configuration give the 135i a decidedly sportier edge.
In fact, the mill allows for some impressive, but progressive, acceleration. Barely 5.4 seconds will see you past the 100 km/h mark, one second less than the 128i with manual transmission.
Braking is on par with engine performance. It’s handled by four wheel disc brakes that are larger than those of the 128i and as precise as the steering system. Simply delightful.
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| The elegant profile of the 135i is reminiscent of the 3 Series. |
A gas guzzler, you reckon?
Some will say this twin-turbo is mighty thirsty. During our road tests conducted both in the city and the country, we recorded an average consumption rating of 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres (of premium fuel).
That’s still slightly lower than what the competitors manage. In any case, fuel consumption is undoubtedly low on the list of priorities of sports car buyers.
However, they do expect the car to communicate a nice sense of security. It sports a blue and white badge, after all. But in this regard the 135i, like all rear-wheel-drive sports cars, suffers from a split personality. On dry pavement, the well-distributed mass (52.3% in front and 47.7% in back) helps optimize rear-wheel traction. On wet or snow-covered pavement, with so much power dispatched to the rear wheels the BMW quickly transforms into a sled-like contraption. Its traction control system kicks in regularly to limit the rear end’s shenanigans. But to be on the safe side you’ll take out your trusty X3.
In short, the 135i represents a logical alternative to the refined Japanese sport coupes and an exclusive offering among the European contenders with its powerful engine. And for those who might be interested, by shelling out an extra $6,000 you can enjoy wind-in-your-hair convertible driving backed up by as much muscle. A true gem, I tell you!
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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