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"  has long billed itself as purveyor of &amp;quot;The Ultimate Driving Machine.&amp;quot; Fair enough, though any number of automobile manufacturers may argue this. But, of late, the styling side of the equation has been lacking. The venerable and sedans, in an effort to add some spice to their conservative elegance, have \u2014 in many minds \u2014 gone a touch overboard: Witness the rear decklid treatment of the 7. Ditto that of the 5, though not nearly to the same degree. So when it came to penning the all-new 3 Series \u2014 the brand&amp;#039;s biggest seller by far \u2014 it was absolutely vital that the new car take a step forward in perform-ance, smart technology (iDrive need not apply), advancing the rich 3 Series lineage and, most important, be easy on the eyes.   Bull&amp;#039;s-eye!   Instantly noticeable on the skin of the new $36,995 (including destination) \u2014 known internally as the E90 \u2014 is the bold crease running along the car&amp;#039;s sides, the strake adding strength and presence. Another nice exterior touch, this one in the functional category, is the illuminated door handles. The distinctive wishbone-shaped orange safety reflectors that envelop the headlights also catch one&amp;#039;s attention in a positive manner. And what has been an Achilles&amp;#039; heel of recent BMW offerings, that rear end/decklid, is downright tidy on this car. This new sedan is the best-proportioned and -executed of the entire BMW lineup, its exterior details garnering attention for their sublime integration, not their garishness. Some members of our staff, however, found the 330i lacking some of its Teutonic styling heritage.   The interior has a familiar look and feel. The gauges and dashboard plastics are all but identical in composition to those of the last-generation machine. The update to dash and heat/vent/air-conditioning controls could best be described as evolutionary, not revolutionary. This conservative approach is in contrast to its rival, , which appears to have taken a step backward from the last-generation interior layout and execution with their latest (Audi A6 3.2 Quattro , April 2005 issue). BMW&amp;#039;s various controls remain intuitive and easy to use. Features that are new to the interior of the 3 Series are a keyless remote fob that slides into a slot beneath the new engine start/stop button, and alternate no-cost interior trims \u2014 aluminum or lighter poplar wood instead of the standard rich, dark burled walnut. The door lock/unlock button now resides between the two center console vents, having moved from the console area between the seats. And the window switches no longer surround the shift lever: They&amp;#039;ve moved to the door panel armrests (controls for all four windows are on the driver&amp;#039;s door, a bit too far forward for most).   The all-new 6-speed manual transmission feels very similar in operation to the gearbox in the previous generation: smooth and precise, medium-length throws, traditionally notchy and a touch rubbery. Also similar to the last car&amp;#039;s, a fairly light clutch pedal offers little take-up feel. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/reviews/a11023/2006-bmw-330i-1/>