Review and photos by Paul Williams
Well, that takes the wind out of your sails. Especially when driving BMW's 335i version of its new 3 Series Coupé, which has under the hood a 3.0-litre, direct injected, twin-turbo, inline six-cylinder engine that makes a whopping 300 horsepower and matching 300 lb-ft of torque.

The BMW engineers gathered at this event seemed particularly well pleased with these numbers, feeling that with the 335i they have conquered the contradictions between power and tractability, and furthermore, between ride and handling. Typically you can have one or each, but in the 335i, that conventional wisdom has truly gone away.

Type: Two-door, four-passenger, performance coupe
Notable: Sizzling performance, sultry looks, exclusivity
Available: September 2006
Pricing: Starting in the mid-to-high $40,000, to low $50,000 range, depending on model

The only real negative was the navigation system, whose avatar seemed to go mental in our car, barking out contradictory instructions one after the other, Click to enlargein rapid-fire sequence. It was a bizarre experience solved by switching her off (and recalling jokes about HAL in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey"), using a paper map, asking directions and following signs. This still works quite well. Designed for the enthusiast, the 2007 BMW 335i Coupe is a driver's car that seats four adults comfortably, offers outstanding performance andClick to enlarge features a large 440-litre trunk for luggage on a long trip. It's packed with safety features, occupant conveniences (a motorized arm proffers your shoulder belt), and performance technologies. It must be considered the benchmark for all vehicles in this class.

The BMW 5 Series - best images, latest prices, reviews
The 2007 BMW 5 Series sedan comes in 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi and 550i models. The wagon is available in 530xi trim only. Standard equipment includes automatic climate control, a CD player, one-touch power windows, rain-sensing windshield wipers and heated mirrors. Ten-way power front seats are also standard, with 20-way power seats available as a package option. Leatherette upholstery is standard on all models except the 550i, which gets standard leather. The iDrive vehicle management system is integrated into all 5 Series models...

The all-new BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2005. With an exceptional harmony of elegance and athleticism, the Sports Wagon offers flexibility and practicality as well. Available in the US beginning in October 2005, the newest BMW Sports Wagon will continue the highly successful tradition of combining more versatile cargo space with the performance and handling of a sports sedan.

A world debut full of emotion precisely this is what BMW is presenting at the Frankfurt Motor Show: The BMW Z4 Coup Concept Car, more than any other exhibit, clearly represents and embodies the motto of the world's largest car show: the Thrill of Motoring.

Presenting this Concept Car, BMW is establishing new trends in terms of design, concepts, and technology. And with its performance truly outstanding in every respect, the Z4 Coup Concept Car clearly bears out all the classic values of the BMW brand. Considering the consistently growing market for high-profile premium sports cars, finally, the decision to build such an emotional two-seater Sports Coup as a regular production model is almost obvious.

After hours of sitting in front of a blank computer screen, desperately trying to describe his feelings about the latest BMW 3-Series, our tattered and frayed automotive editor finds himself in an imaginary conversation with his conscience. The problem with the article lies not with the car itself, but with how to describe it without sounding like a junior marketing weenie from BMW headquarters.

"Here we go again, another incoherent rambling about the virtues of this or that European car. I mean really, Grant, after last month's glowing tribute to the Audi A4 and Volvo 850, how do you expect anyone to take you seriously when you say that you have just driven the best European car for under $40,000?"

There is something special about BMWs. I'm not just talking about the snarling M3s, which can whip around corners leaving your stomach wedged somewhere in your throat; nor am I talking about the 7-Series sedans, which can give their occupants an irresistible urge to pull up next to someone in an equally classy car and politely ask if they have any "Grey Poupon." No, I'm talking about nearly every BMW built.

My friends and family think that I have the best job in the world. Every time they see me I am driving a new car that has been dropped off for evaluation. Corvettes, Mustangs, Explorers, and Sedan De Villes are just a few of the vehicles that have occupied my driveway this year. Oh sure, there are the occasional duds, a purple Camaro is a notable example, but for the most part my acquaintances have little sympathy when I complain about the long hours I spend writing and researching. To them, I have a job that consists of fast days on twisty mountain roads and plush press events. Of course I'm not complaining, for fear of losing my job to one of the millions of people who would kill to have it, but there are times when the deadlines and 60 hour weeks get a little overwhelming. Every so often, however, a car is dropped off that reminds me why this is such a fantastic job, and when BMW showed up with a 528i, I knew that my complaining would be over for awhile.