URBAN PLANNERS MAY be embroiled in disputes about the future of Tamar, but on a wet Wednesday, the only roars in earshot are from a new BMW 335i being thrashed by journalists trying to go from 0-100km/h without ending up in the harbour.
Outwardly, the 335i is much more conservative than previous models. It's in the process of being de-Bangled - softening the distinctive Chris Bangle styling and reverting to the slightly lumpen shape it used to have. The kidney grille remains, as does the abrupt line where the roof joins the shoulderline behind the rear window (known as the Hofmeister Kink, fact fans). But BMW has added some spectacular bi-xenon corona ring lights that follow the direction of the steering wheel to put the light where you need it rather than dazzling innocent passersby. The lights also dim when approaching oncoming beams and stay on during the day.
As technology that was previously available only on million-dollar cars trickles down, ordinary drivers can enjoy gadgets that have been tested by some of the world's most demanding consumers, and this is a good example. There are others, too, but we're all mesmerised by the roar of the six-cylinder, twin-turbo engine. Close your eyes and you could be forgiven for thinking that it's an M-series car. The sound is phenomenal and guaranteed to irritate your neighbours when you swing into your driveway at two in the morning.
A quick scout around the interior reveals a stripped-down dashboard that frankly looks as though it belongs on a much more basic car. The seatbelt comes out on an arm, which means you're left scrabbling around in the place that you expect it to be rather than 8cm from your nose, which is where it is. And there's a decent-sized, very comfortable rear seat with an armrest wide enough to separate fighting children. But all this is secondary to the engine.
I'm not terribly co-ordinated and so the BMW paddle-shift is way beyond me. As far as I can work out, flicking the lever on one side shifts up a gear and flicking the one on the other side shifts down. It all gets rather hazy, particularly later when I gain confidence and attempt to corner at a speed that is utterly unsuited to ground that has become a skating rink. I revert to using the gearstick in Tiptronic mode and things are far happier.
The first thing that hits you as you set off is that glorious growl. The second thing is that when you touch the accelerator, your arms are wrenched out of their sockets as the car takes off. Suddenly the definition of 'torque' becomes clear to me. At about 1,300rpm, the car is a rocket. There's no turbo lag, and acceleration of the 3-litre, 306-horsepower engine is instant.