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"Barcelona, Spain\u2014It&amp;#039;s raining\u2014not exactly ideal conditions to wring out the new 2012 BMW 328i on the Circuit de Catalunya F1 track. But some 12.5 million 3 Series cars have been sold since 1975, so this 6th-generation car, known internally as the F30, surely must work well in a variety of road conditions.        2012 BMW 328i    The new BMW 328i comes with the turbocharged and direct-injected 240-bhp 2.0-liter N20 inline-4 that also sees duty in the Z4 and the 5 Series. BMW calls this engine TwinPower not because of twin turbocharging, but because of the combination of its double VANOS variable camshaft timing and Valvetronic variable valve timing with a twin-scroll single turbocharger fed by two separate exhaust banks. The result is a healthy bump of 10 bhp and 60 ft.-lb. of torque compared to the previous 328i equipped with a 3.0-liter inline-6 engine. In fact, BMW tells us the N20 delivers its 260 ft.-lb. of peak torque at mere 1250 rpm, helping the new 3 Series sprint to 60 mph in 5.7 sec (with the 6-speed manual transmission), or 5.9 sec (8-speed automatic).        2012 BMW 328i    The new 328i comes with a number of drive settings that adapt to various road conditions and driver preference. Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes will change not only the throttle and engine response, but also the power steering assist and stability control settings based on how aggressively and fast you want to wind through corners. For maximum efficiency, there is the Eco Pro mode that will damp the first 70 percent of your throttle input, optimize the car&amp;#039;s accessory power draw, plus provide a visual guide on the instrument panel to assist you in minimizing fuel consumption per mile. For driving enthusiasts, the M Sport package, such as on the car I drove, features aggressive exterior and interior trim. More important, it lowers the car by 0.4 inches, and the front strut and rear multilink suspension gets adjustable electronically controlled damping to ensure maximum traction at all times.        2012 BMW 328i    The F30 3 Series is just a little taller and longer than its predecessor. The wheelbase is extended by nearly 2 in. to accommodate a welcome 0.6 in increase in rear knee room. The exterior styling is evolutionary, but with slimmer looks and cleaner lines. The most noticeable change is the more upright signature kidney grille outline connecting to the headlights on both sides. Inside, gone is the double-hump dash that housed the gauges and the infotainment LCD. The new 3 Series has a cleaner and more open dashboard, with a less cumbersome 6.5-in. display that you want to take with you like an iPad, but can&amp;#039;t. There are Sport, Luxury and Modern packages, each with their own interior and exterior trim details.        2012 BMW 328i    Outside of Barcelona, the 328i carves up the mountain roads with aplomb, exhibiting a buttery-smooth steering feel, s responsive chassis and confidence-inspiring grip. The N20 turbo-4 sounds a bit wheezy, even diesel-like when idling. But when you ask for full power, the tremendous torque helps the new 3 feel much like a more powerful sports car. At high speeds, the cabin is surprisingly quiet thanks in part to an impressive drag coefficient of 0.29.        2012 BMW 328i    Around the Circuit de Catalunya, the 3 Series feels right at home. Despite lapping the track under a steady rain, the 328i is surefooted in braking and through the corners. With Sport or Sport+ turned on, the BMW increasingly hands over control to the driver, but all the while keeping the car pointed forward. With all safety systems off, the car&amp;#039;s limits are very high and still very predictable. Moderate understeer is sensed just off center, but quickly and progressively transitions to mild understeer as you dial in more steering combined with just a touch of trail-braking. Full throttle past the apex will get the rear out, but it&amp;#039;s easily reined in with slightest countersteer. Just can&amp;#039;t imagine what this car would be like in the dry.        2012 BMW 328i    The list price for the BMW 328i is $35,775. And for the 335i (powered by a turbo inline-6) the sticker rises to $43,275. Look for the M Sport package to be available in July, and in the fall of 2012 we&amp;#039;ll see a 300-bhp ActiveHybrid 3 and all-wheel drive. Based on my brief (and damp) impression of the new 2012 3 Series, it&amp;#039;s clear to me that BMW has once again improved its benchmark sport sedan.        2012 BMW 328i   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a17827/2012-bmw-328i/>