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2007 BMW 335i Cabriolet Road Test

Have you ever noticed how any 3-Series Convertible, no matter the model orthe generation, always manages to look good? There's something about BMW's 3-Series drop-top that, unlike the sedan or the two-door coupe, has an effortless sort of look to it. And while the 3-Series has become a symbol of ubiquity, a sort of mass-market BMW, you couldn't say the same about the Cabriolet. It will always be cool, always be stylish and somehow, always be in fashion. Things will no doubt stay constant as BMW moves its loyal convertible buyers into the new generation 3-Series Cabrio, complete with folding hardtop roof, the first BMW to feature this technology.

Unlike the early '90s Cabriolets, which were very upright, very simple looking automobiles, the Cabriolet and the Coupe are slick and aerodynamic. There's still a bit of two-door sedan to the way it's lines flow below the waist, but this is definitively the sleekest car to ever wear the 3-Series badge. Nevertheless, this is a car that speaks to its BMW-ness in large volumes; it's instantly recognizable as a 3-Series, despite having different head and

BMW's 3-Series Cabriolets have always been stylish vehicles. Not much has changed with this redesign. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

taillights from its sedan counterpart. While vertical growth seems to be the primary domain as a styling trend, long and lean rules the designlanguage for the two-door 3. Its tapered, aggressive nose and predator styling is appropriate given that just about anything on the road could be its prey, especially if it's a 335i like this one.

The majority of the convertibles launched this year, with the exception of a handful of roadsters and super-expensive machines, possess folding hardtop roofs, and despite this newfound popularity the fact of the matter is that integrating large panels of steel and glass isn't easy to do, especially if you want to keep some grace to the car's design. Looking at the 3's nearest competitor,

The three section roof lifts, folds and packs itself away in a smooth, flowing action that resembles a professional poker player cutting a deck of cards with one hand. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

the Volvo C70, there's almost nothing about the BMW that gives away its lavish three-segment roof. While both cars were designed as coupes before their convertible conversion, it's the BMW's tail that comes across as looking natural. The windshield also ends well before the driver's head, enabling him or her to still get the benefits of a convertible. Even better, when the roof of the 3 is fixed it could pass for a regular coupe if not for the defined segments that split it up (dark colors hide this better). Further credit goes to BMW for its ability to incorporate drain gutters and the trademark Hoffmeister kink in the rear quarter window,plus the speediness of the whole operation. Dropping the top takes just 22 seconds, and raising it takes place in only 23, the speediest

If you need to, the rear bench folds down for a large sized pass-thru. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

in the segment.

If practicality is ever an issue against buying a convertible, the 335i has it in spades. Here's a car you can drive 365 days a year, rain, snow or shine with no worries of leaks. It's also considerably more resistant to break-ins than its cloth-top rivals, should you park outside. For the simple reason it's got a giant roof to swallow, the trunk of the 3 is quite large; 12.4 cubic feet with the roof up, and 7.4 cubic feet when it's down. The cargo area is best accessed when the roof is up, as the opening is quite small, but it's actually bigger than anything else in class. For those times when even more space is needed, the 3-Series also features a folding rear seat with a wide opening for skis and snowboards. Folding the seat down eliminates both spots, but the fact that they actually do this is impressive and significantly enhances its day-to-day usability.

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