2013 BMW 135is - Car and Driver
BMW performs no such hedging as to its definition of “is. ” It denotes a higher level of performance to its customers, and the latest car to wear that suffix, the 135is , is as suave as Slick Willie. To create the newest “is” car, BMW tuned its N55 turbocharged inline-six to make 320 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, increases of 20 and 17. Thin-spoke 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim, and the lower-case “s” on the trunk are further 135is... BMW equipped this car with a suspension identical to that of a 135i equipped with the M Sport package, and it favors handling over ride quality. Freeway expansion joints cause the 135is to buck, and over medium-size road blemishes, there is considerable impact harshness. The freeway is where we grew to seriously dislike the standard-issue performance exhaust. In complete contrast to the highway behavior, the sounds generated by the inline-six at or near full throttle couldn’t be more pleasing. Despite a turbocharger, this six-cylinder sounds richer than many V-8s. The slightly stiff suspension is at home hustling down corner-filled back roads. 9 fewer inches than that of the current 3-series—make it a tossable delight, despite the heavy-for-its-size 3335-pound curb weight. Source: www.caranddriver.com
