All you really want to know about the all-new 3 Series Coupe is that it is larger and now has the biggest trunk (440 litres) in its segment, right?

You want more? Okay, how about this? One version of the new coupe line will be the 328xi -- that's "x" as in all-wheel drive. BMW says it will be the only AWD coupe in its segment (though Audi does AWD A4 convertibles).

Although it's hardly an off-roader, the 328xi does ride 20 mm higher than its siblings, and comes with Hill Descent Control and Automatic Differential Brakes.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. The new two-door is based on the new-last-year 3 Series sedan, though the Banglesque styling influence is muted.

Aside from the 328xi the new car comes in RWD 328i and twin-turbo 335i guises. All come with 6-speed transmissions.

The turbo 3.0-litre is a marvel, exquisitely smooth and musical sounding in ways that, frankly, BMW sixes haven't always been in recent years.

Among the cornucopia of chassis-control acronyms, the latest version of DSC on the coupe incorporates: Hill-start assist (for hill starts without roll-back); Brake standby (faster emergency response); Brake drying (improved response in the wet); Fade compensation (maintains brake performance when they are hot); and Soft stop (smoother stops, reduced brake dive (not on 328xi).

Phew, no Bangle bungle. It's a looker!

Pricey for its size