Though it leeks similar to the 325/318 sedan, the new 318ls coupe is lower, longer and wider and sportier. A 138-horsepower dual-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine,
five-speed manual transmission, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS are standard equipment. Suggested base price is $26,300. Inquire about the 318is at Park Shere

W 3i18is

Motors, 1500 Fell, North Van.

B

Superb handling in affordable new four-cylinder model

SINCE ITS introduction
last year, the new - 3-series
’ BMW has been hailed as a
trendsetter in the small lux-
ury/performance car cate-

gory.

The four-door 325i sedan was

The 218ia offers
stable, balanced
and forgiving
handling without
sacrificing ride.

introduced first, and went on to
win a string of international
awards from car magazines and
journalists’ associations.

In Canada, the 325i won the

‘overall Car of the Year award

from the Automobile Journalists
Association of Canada. It received
particular praise for its clean,

aerodynamic styling, superb hand-

“ting and performance, and ‘safety
attributes such as standard anti-
lock brakes.

325i sedans, however, are priced
in the $35,000 to $40,000 range; a
little too steep for many entry-
level buyers.

BMW customers who wanted
something more affordable had to
wait more than six months for the
sportier two-door 318is and the
entry-level 318i sedan.

The 318% sedan starts at $25,700
and the 318is coupe at just
$26,900. Both of these four-
cylinder ‘‘Beamers’’ offer basical-
ly the same design and structural
features as the six-cylinder 325
models, but with less horsepower

‘ and fewer standard features.

For approximately ten thousand
doliars less, they are considered to
be relative bargains.

To the untrained eye, the two-
and four-door models took vir-
tually identical.

Base price $26,900
Type two-door,
coupe

Layout longitudinal
engine/rear-wheel drive
Engine 1.8-litre four-cylinder
engine, DOHC, 16 valves, Bosch

four-passenger

front

In fact, they have different
dimensions and share very few ex-
terior body panels.

The two-door is lower, longer
and wider than the four-door,
with a different nose section and a
lower hood. The windscreen and
rear window are more raked, the
roofline is shorter, the rear
decklid is shorter, and the rear tail
lamps are lower and wider.

This week’s test car is a 318is
coupe.

With 138 horsepower, its dual
Overhead cam four-cylinder
engine doesn’t provide awe-inspir-
ing performance.

The 318is has a 0 to 100 km/h
time of 10.2 seconds, compared to
7.8 seconds for the six-cylinder
325is.

In fact, there are many four-
cylinder sporty coupes that offer
better acceleration than the 318is.
However, the 318is engine has a
very smooth power progression
right up to its 6500 rpm redline.

MH-Motronic fuel injection
Horsepower 138 @ 5,900 rpm
Torque 129 @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission five-speed manual
Curb weight 1,300 kg/2,866 Ibs
Wheelbase 2,700 mm/106.3 in.
Length 4,433 mm/174.5 in.

Friday, September 18, 1992 - North Shore News —

News photos | Cindy Goodman

Greg
Wilson

TEST DRIVE

The best attribute of the 318is is
its superb handling.

The 318is offers stable,.balanc-
ed and forgiving handling without
sacrificing ride — not an easy ac-

See 318is page 40

35

A

Width 1,710 mm/67.3 in.
Height 1,366 mm/53.8 in.
Tires 205/60R-15 radials
Trunk capacity 403 litres/14.2
cu.ft. ,
Fuel economy n/a.

Warranty four years/80,000 km