BMW’S 3 Series Coupe has always offered a harder edge and more performance for less money than its most direct rivals in the Mercedes-Benz CLK coupe range. Based on the latest E90 sedan, the new E92 version is considerably stiffer but virtually the same weight, and steers and handles even more sharply than before. But it’s the introduction of BMW’s brand-new twin-turbo six that’s the headline act in the new 335i flagship, at least until the next-generation M3 arrives with a V8 for the first time. The 335’s cracking new 3.0-litre twin-turbo six leapfrogs the heavier, auto-only CLK350’s 3.5-litre V6 for both power and torque by a significant margin, although a near-$15,000 price hike over the 330Ci it replaces positions the new 3 Series Coupe flagship within $10,000 of the quickest non-V8 CLK. Thankfully for the CLK, ride quality and the Mercedes-Benz badge still rate highly in the priorities for many premium coupe buyers.