The car that created the sports sedan class continues to define it.

Say hello to the all-new 2012 BMW 3 Series. Now available at Calgary BMW, this improved 3 Series is something that has to be driven to truly comprehend.

“The BMW 3-Series has an unparalleled reputation as the dynamic benchmark among sport sedans. Yet with increasing pressure from the market not only to bring more connectivity, technology, and style into cabins, but also to increase gas mileage, is it possible to maintain the 3’s poise while also meeting luxury-shopper expectations,” asks Bengt Halvorson of The Driving Connection.

“Surprisingly, yes.”

The updated look of the 3 Series sees it growing slightly--now 3.7 inches longer, 0.4 inches taller and with an additional 3.5 cubic feet of passenger space--all while keeping the lines and design that cannot be mistaken for anything other than the iconic 3 Series.

The all-new 3 Series builds off the lineage of its predecessors, while including some of the most innovative features available on the road. For example, on the 328i, the former inline 6 engine has been replaced by a turbocharged four cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower and 260 pounds of torque.

“No need to worry about losing two cylinders; any way you use it, the new four-cylinder 328i feels stronger than the six-cylinder model before it,” says Halvorson.  

And despite its impressive performance, it still has stellar fuel economy, with the Canadian government giving it a rating of 6.8 L/100 km. Add to that the Auto Start-Stop feature, and Brake Energy Regeneration and you will be taking out your wallet or purse and filling up at the pump a lot less.

The interior of the new 3 Series screams of innovation, including practical features that help with obstacles found during everyday driving.

“Innovations inside include a first–in–segment full color head up display as well as side view/top view images while reversing the car. Blind spot detection also makes an appearance, as does BMW parking assist, which parks the car for you…,” says Mark Elias of Left Lane News.

The new 3 Series also has options that greatly increase productivity, thanks to features such as BMW Apps, Mobile Office with Text-to-Speech and USB Audio Integration with Extended Functionality. You’ll have the fastest office around.

Book a test drive appointment today and feel what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of the all-new BMW 3 Series.

Everyone knows that winter tires are important, but few of us know why and even fewer understand exactly how they work.

A brief history lesson is in order to really grasp the ins and outs of winter tires.

“In the old days,” writes the Globe and Mail’s Richard Russell, “a winter tire was called a snow tire and it had a much more aggressive tread pattern designed to cut into snow. Many people still use the term snow tire – but in reality car companies no longer offer such a product.”

Science, over the years, evolved and with it came the progression from snow tires to modern winter tires.

“As chemistry and production became more sophisticated, so did tires. The old snow tire was replaced by the winter tire. The difference was a tread designed to grip both snow and ice and remain supple in cold conditions,” writes Russell.

While snow tires may have dug into snow with their deep, wide grooves, they would get hard when the temperature dropped and were not ideal for non-winter driving.

The Winter tires of today involve “more closed tread patterns that remain supple in cold conditions and project thousands of little edges to grip ice," explains Russell.  

"Because they do not stiffen up and have treads designed to throw off snow, they continue to be effective in snow."

Seven is the lucky (or unlucky) number when it comes to all-season and winter tires.

 “The compound dictates the point at which the rubber turns from something able to grip the road to a near-useless black ring," says Driving.ca’s Graeme Fletcher.

"At 7C, the all-season’s harder compound  — needed to provide the required driving life — begins to lose traction. At the same temperature, a winter tire is just beginning to get comfortable. At -7C, the all-season has become so hard it slides like a puck on ice. Conversely, the more pliable winter tire is in its element.”

And for those who have never been stuck and think winter tires aren’t needed, John Mahler of Wheels.ca puts everything into perspective. He writes, “Getting stuck is not an issue. It's stopping and turning without plowing into oncoming traffic – that's what's important.”

To ensure you have the optimal Winter tire package on your vehicle, contact the experts at Calgary BMW.

Winter isn’t over yet. Be as safe as possible when driving in Calgary’s unpredictable weather conditions and make sure you have the right rubber hitting the road.