BMW 3-Series news - New 3-Series Coupé revealed - 2006

Just as night follows day, the BMW 3-Series Coupé arrives 18 months after the saloon model.

However, the Coupé heralds a new dawn with the arrival of BMW's first ever twin-turbo petrol engine in a production car, and only its second ever turbo'd petrol road car to be sold in Europe after the 1974 2002 Turbo.

The twin-turbo 3.0-litre sticks with BMW's favourite straight-six design, but the forced induction helps release 306bhp.

This engine will be found in the 335i, which will turn in 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and is limited to 155mph.

The other engine on offer when the Coupé goes on sale in September is a 218bhp 2.5-litre six.

The 325i Coupé delivers 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and will cost £28,090, while the 335i will set you back from £33,420.

Both models come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while an automatic is an option with flappy-paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

Expect to see a 330i model follow at the end of 2006. This version packs 272bhp from a non-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine.

A 330d will arrive at the same time as the 330i and will have 231bhp to serve up 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds and 43.5mpg.

Entry-level 320i and 320d models will follow on later in 2007.

The Coupé shares much of its construction with the saloon, but it tips the scales at around 10kg lighter, thanks to the use of plastics for some body panels. Metal parts of the structure vary in thickness, with thicker metal for critical parts and thinner metal where it's unstressed.

Inside, passengers sit lower to the ground than in the saloon, to improve handling while still giving decent headroom.