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22 - The Oakville Beaver, Tuesday December 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Taking the BMW 128i Coupe for a Road Test By Rob Beintema Metroland Media Group www.yourautos.ca First impressions. My favourite part of the road test. The first walkaround, the first detailed inspection from every angle. Everything is fresh and new to sight, smell and touch, and the senses are alert to the smallest nuances that can soon be lost to repetition and familiarity. In this case, I was getting to know the new BMW 128i Coupe. The 1 Series has been successfully sold in Europe since 2004. It was a natural fit to slip under the 3 Series that, like most models, has steadily evolved in size and complexity over the years. BMW Canada crop picked from its extensive European 1 Series lineup, selecting a four version spread for this country. Coupe and Cabriolet (convertible) models come available in two power variants ­ a naturally-aspirated 128i and a turbopowered 135i. So, back to my 128i where my detail-snooping first impressions seemed awash in the background noise of sheer "BMW-ness". The look and feel of interior textures, the dash layout and instrumentation was overwhelming, even that unique aroma, mixed scents of leather and the curiously cognac-like whiff of windshield washer fluid that's unique to German cars. I could have been in any BMW. Which is a compliment, not a criticism in this, the newest and one of the smallest BMWs ever made. BMW 128i At A Glance BODY STYLE: Compact premium sports coupe. DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive. ENGINE: 3.0-litre inline 6-cyinder Valvetronic engine (230 hp / 200 lb-ft of torque) FUEL ECONOMY: Six-speed manual (as tested) ­ 11.2/7/9.3L/100km (city/hwy/combined) PRICE: $33,900 as tested, $37,380. WEBSITE: bmw.ca do not test the 135i. It will spoil you. The BMW 135i Coupe's new 2979 cc inline six-cylinder engine features high-precision injection, twin lowmass turbochargers and air-to-air intercooler. Winner of the 2007 International Engine of the Year award, this remarkable engine produces 300 hp and an incredible 300 lb-ft of torque from as low as 1,400 rpm, providing the BMW 135i Coupe with stunning acceleration of 0-100 km/h in just over 5 seconds. This car won the Best New Sports / Performance Car (under $50,000) segment at the recent AJAC Car of the Year TestFest. Regardless of your choice, both variants start with the familiar standard 6-speed manual transmission or the choice of the optional 6-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic. If some of the powertrain and transmission choices do seem familiar, well, they should be considering that more than half of the individual elements making up the 1 Series come from the 3 Series parts bins. And indeed, many might argue that the 1 Series is simply what the 3 Series should have been without the evolutionary weight and size growth ­ the simple time-tested formula of athletic power, suspension and frame blended with the classic, nearperfect 50/50 front/rear weight distribution and good old rear wheel drive. The "less-is-more" school of minimalist thought might use the 128i as a poster child for its philosophy. But I'll just stick with my first impressions of a car that, at about $9K less than an equivalently-powered 3 Series Coupe, offers a relatively economic entry into the premium compact sport market, a car that can blend a little performance edginess into everyday commuting and a car that pares away the extraneous for the true essence of BMW. The BMW 1 Series, starting at $33,900 and introduced to Canada early in 2008 to acclaimed success, offered in Coupe and Cabriolet, with a choice of a naturally-aspirated inline six-cylinder engine or with twin-turbocharged power. Yes, it's lighter and tighter. The 1 Series Coupe weighs in at about 50 kgs less than an equivalent 3 Series Coupe and it is 215 mm (8.5") shorter in length and 34 mm (1.3") narrower in width. Curiously, it is also an inch taller than its 3 Series sibling, the rounded roof strikingly complimentary to the modern interpretation of classic coupe dimensions. Some see real traces of the BMW 2002 that first introduced the concept of the high-performance compact sports sedan to the world. I don't think it would be difficult to argue that the 1 Series Coupe is, as BMW says, at least the "spiritual successor" to that athletic ancestor. Let's pop back inside the snug Inside, the 128i couldn't be anything but a BMW, with classic interior styling, quality and attention to detail. but comfortable cabin. I say snug because even though the width is only about an inch less than in a 3 Series, there's more shoulder-toshoulder driver/passenger intimacy in this car. As in most coupes, due to cramped confines, two-door entrance and the rear slope of the rounded roof, the 2+2 seating seems almost an afterthought. The rear seat is suitable for briefcases, handbags and occasional passenger torture only. But that's okay. Because I see this as a single's or couple's car and when I mentioned "comfortable", well, up front there's plenty of room for two with all the luxury, available amenities and attention to detail you'd expect in a BMW, even in their entrylevel car. In my 128i tester, a simple twodial display faces the driver beyond the handsome multi-buttoned steering wheel and the interior and dash darkness is broken by brushed metal highlights with seating available in leatherette, as tested, or in optional Boston Leather upholstery. Ahhh, and no dumb i-Drive in this tester at least. As mentioned earlier, the 1 Series Coupes and Cabriolets come with a choice of two powertrains, both 3.0litre engines but very different in dynamic power and demeanor. The BMW 128i is powered by BMW's latest generation 2996 cc inline 6-cyinder Valvetronic engine generating 230 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. This lightweight magnesium/aluminum engine has proved itself in both 3 and 5 Series models, so you know it is more than up to the task of propelling the smaller, lighter 128i. This is the kind of engine that loves to be flogged. Prod the pedal and, with a pleasing power roar, the 128i honks out eagerly to it 6800 rpm redline. It cruises sedately at around 2200 rpm at legal highway speed with the stubby shifter in sixth gear, each downshift through the cogs bumping the revs up by about 500 rpm. If you have your sights set on the fairly economical entry-level 128i, Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com