Under the Hood

The 135i's turbocharged inline-six makes 300 horsepower and 300 pounds-feet of torque. It works through a six-speed manual or BMW's seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Either car hits 60 mph in about 5 seconds, BMW says. The M Sport Package adds a sport-tuned suspension with high-performance, six-piston front and two-piston rear brakes.

If that seems like too much, consider stepping down to the 230-hp, normally aspirated 128i, which is covered separately in the Cars.com Research section.

    See also:

    Exterior
    BMW says the front-end modifications for 2006 have been "executed with the utmost reserve and subtlety." In addition to the restyled hood, the 7 Series sedans have reshaped rocker panels ...

    Self-leveling suspension
    The concept The self-leveling suspension keeps the vehicle height and ground clearance constant. The height of the vehicle at the rear axle is maintained at a predefined level under all load co ...

    Switching on/off manually
    Press the button. On: the LED lights up. Off: the LED goes out. ...