Twin-turbo six for BMW's 3 Series sedan!

JUST as we'd hoped, BMW has confirmed it will bless its E90 3 Series sedan with the cracking new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six that will spearhead the redesigned 3 Series Coupe range from October.

Due on sale in December with a $104,000 pricetag (representing a $5500 premium over the naturally-aspirated 190kW 330i sedan) the 335i sedan will offer V8-style performance from its 225kW/400Nm twin-turbo N54 six, which out-muscles the 330i by 35kW and 100Nm.

As with the forthcoming 335i Coupe, the sedan is claimed to boost power, torque and acceleration over its non-turbo 3.0-litre siblings - at the same time as "banishing turbo lag and using far less fuel than a conventional turbo engine".

The result is 0-100km/h acceleration thats 0.8 seconds quicker than the 330i, with the 335i sedan claiming a sprint time of just 5.8 seconds. With combined average (EU) fuel consumption of just 9.6L/100km, the 335i sedan offers vastly lower fuel consumption (and emissions) than a similarly powerful V8.

Both two and four-door 335i models will be speed-limited to 250km/h.

BMW claims the 335i sedan will turn the premium performance sedan market on its head with an engine that offers peak torque from as low as 1300rpm and doesn't let up until 5000rpm.

The flagship of the new E92 3 Series Coupe range in Europe since July - at least until the next-generation 4.0-litre V8-powered M3 coupe surfaces - the two-door 335i will be joined here by its four-door sibling after just two months. BMW's 170kW 3.0-litre turbo-diesel may also appear here eventually, most likely in the 330d sedan.

Apart from a six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with steering wheel shift paddes, BMW Australia says the 335i sedan will come standard with High Beam Assist, Professional Navigation, a TV tuner, Voice Recognition and Bluetooth mobile phone preparation.

BMW's M Sport Package will also be available with the 335i sedan, comprising sports suspension settings, 17-inch light alloys wheels, an M Aerodynamic bodykit and M interior features such as M sport seats and interior trim, and chrome-finished M Sport tailpipes.

"The arrival of the 335i Sedan in Australia confirms the BMW 3 Series as the most dynamic car in the class it created more than 30 years ago," said BMW Australia's general manager, marketing, Tom Noble in today's press release.

"With its cutting edge engineering innovation, high power output combined with frugal fuel consumption, the 335i is the only choice for the most sophisticated sporting drivers of luxury compact cars.

"We expect the 335i Sedan will make its mark in Australia out of the box, as one of the fastest, most refined and dynamically enhanced cars available."