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BMW 320d Coupe: Test Drive

Date: 05 October 2007   |   Author: John Mahoney

Category: Sports
Prices: £25,995-£50,625
Key rival: Audi A5

Green taxation as a way to curb our indulgent lives is, it seems, here to stay.

But while we might struggle with the prospect of paying for disposal of our rubbish by the kilo and sewage by the litre, carmakers like BMW are rapidly adapting.

bmw_320d_coupe.gif

The 3-series Coupe and cars like it are the unlikeliest of green crusaders, being both a traditional company car dream and a glowing example of what manufacturers can achieve.

Gaining stop-start and numerous fuel-saving engine features the BMW is not only more fuel-efficient but more powerful too.

How does a top speed of 144mph and a sub-8secs sprint to 60mph sound? Plus astonishing fuel economy of 58.9mpg and incredibly low emissions of 128g/km? We would wager the latter could drop further still to sub 120g/km if the carbon dioxide-linked London congestion charge gets the nod.

The drive, like old, borders on sensational, benefiting from the more powerful engine that is noticeably even smoother than the one it replaces. Only our car's run-flat tyres and M Sport stiffer suspension threatened to ruin the show - that and a painful P11D in excess of £30k - but nothing can dent the stunning feat BMW has accomplished. If it were a saloon and fractionally better kitted out (Bluetooth is £535) it would be a five-star car. For now it will have to cope with being the most complete business case for any coupe on the market.



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