A new trim level encompasses the only major change for the iconic BMW 3 Series in 2011. A sportier version of the 335 coupe and convertible has been added to the lineup, to accompany the 328 and traditional 335 trims. The base 328 trim comes with rear- or all-wheel drive and is available as a four-door sedan, two-door convertible or coupe, or a four-door wagon. The 335 drops the wagon configuration, but adds several engine options.

The 328i has a base rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout, while those designated ix receive BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. All 328s are powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 230 hp for a spirited if not harrowing ride. Two hundred thirty horses don’t seem like much anymore, but they’re more than enough to scoot the 328 both around town and on the highway, with even passing maneuvers failing to tax the robust six. xDrive offers a slight penalty in overall sprightliness, but with a major gain in stability, especially in the snow.

If the 3.0-liter in the 328 is competent, the turbocharged 300-hp version in the 335 serves to up the ante slightly, enough to make the jaunt to 60 in 4.7 seconds. Turbo lag is evident, but not excessive or aggravating, and the ramp up to peak power is exhilarating. 335is coupes and convertibles get an even more potent 320-hp version of the turbocharged inline 3.0-liter six, which feels much faster than the extra 20 horses would suggest. Perhaps that’s because it also gets an extra 32 lb-ft of torque for a total of 332, as well as an overboost mode that will ramp the pressure in the turbines up to 14.5 psi for up to 7 seconds, delivering 370 lb-ft at will.

For years in the States we’ve been complaining about all those high-performance special-edition 3 Series that appear in Europe but never seem to hop the pond. It’d be easy to think that the Germans decided to quiet our near-constant complaints by simply upping the boost in the 335i from 8.7 to 11.6, slapping an “s” on the end of the trim designation, and retiring to the nearest watering hole for brats and beers. But this simply isn’t the case, lucky for us. The 335is gets a higher-capacity cooling fan and a redesigned lower fascia with bigger openings to cool the secondary radiator and oil cooler tucked behind its left and right sides. It also gets stiffer engine mounts to handle the increased torque and is the first non-M BMW to get not only the six-speed manual, but the seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission, arguably the best offered in the lineup. The 335is also gets an M suspension good for a slight (10mm) drop, along with stiffer springs and shocks. From the outside, you’ll notice gray 18-inch alloys, unique black trim and badges, as well as black chrome exhaust tips. The price comes within a couple thousand of the M3's, but it offers a distinct driving experience, so you’ll have to drive both and decide for yourself. It’s the torque that really makes the difference, with even its baseline rating of 332 besting the M3’s 295 by a surprising amount, especially when considering the 335's peak torque arrives at 1,200 rpm, as opposed to 3,900 for the M3. Horsepower is a similar story, and while the M3 puts up an impressive 414 from its 4.0-liter V8, it won’t show up until a screaming 8,300 rpm, while the 335’s inline six delivers at a more accessible 5,800. Personally, I’ll take the more streetable 335.

For a truly insane amount of torque, enough to tear the asphalt right out from underneath you, look to the 335d, powered by a turbodiesel 3.0-liter inline six offering 425 lb-ft of torque at an immediately apparent 1,750 rpm. Two hundred sixty-five horses show up at 4,200 rpm, making sure your arms will stay straight all the way to redline.

It’s nice to see BMW treating us Americans as something more than a cash cow to fund their own European adventures by way of special editions and high-performance models. After all, we like to go fast, too. Hopefully, the 335is won’t be a short-lived experiment and will lead to more exotic importations, but that’ll depend largely on whether we can fend off our instinctive M fever.