BMW Styles

BMW cars come in myriad styles and models. Body styles include the coupe, convertible, sedan, touring wagon, roadster and the crossover sport utility vehicles. The 1 Series is an entry-level compact car. The 3 Series is a compact executive car while the 5 Series is a mid-size sedan or touring wagon. The 6 Series is a coupe and 7 Series is a sedan. The Z4 is a roadster, while the X Series is BMW's SUV offering.

1 Series

The 1 Series became the newest member of the BMW family in 2004 to fill the upscale compact car niche. The 2011 1 Series comes in three- and five-door models, the coupe and convertible. A 122-horsepower two-liter four-cylinder engine powers the 1 Series. The three-door features a hatchback and the five-door model has four doors and the hatchback.

3 Series

The venerable 3 Series has been part of BMW's lineup since 1975. The 2011 models come as a sedan, touring wagon, coupe and convertible. It's BMW's most popular car due to its compact 108.7-inch wheelbase and fuel-efficient 143-horsepower two-liter four-cylinder engine. The touring style is a four-door station wagon with hatchback. It features an aerodynamic roofline sloping down at the rear.

5 Series

The 5 Series has been in the BMW stable since 1972 and in 2011 was available as a sedan, touring wagon and the sporty Grand Turismo. The 2011 sedan receives a 205-horsepower three-liter six-cylinder engine. The powerful Grand Turismo comes as the 535i, the 550i, the 530d and the 535d. "i" designates a fuel-injection engine while a "d" stands for diesel. The 407-horsepower 4.4-liter eight-cylinder gasoline engine powers the 550i version.

6 Series

BMW offers the 2011 6 Series as a coupe or convertible, echoing the 1960s styling of a long hood and short rear deck. A rear spoiler is integrated into the rear deck. It sits on a roomy 112.4-inch wheelbase and measures 192.8 inches long. A three-liter in-line six-cylinder gasoline or diesel engine or the optional 4.8-liter V-8 supplies the power.

7 Series

The 7 Series is BMW's ultra luxury model. The body panels are more sculpted and the nose more square than the 5 and 6 Series models. Three-liter straight-six diesels or the massive six-liter V-12 provides the power. The car is available in the standard 120.9-inch wheelbase with a total body length of 199.7 inches, or the long wheelbase configuration of 126.4 inches with an overall body length of 205.2 inches.

Z4

BMW's Z4 is an open roadster first introduced in 2002. It's only in its second generation and the body style has changed little since its inception. The styling is strictly old-school roadster that pays homage to the 1950s British sports car like the long-hood and stubby boot Austin Healey and the 1960s E-Type Jaguars. BMW markets the Z4 as a personal luxury car. Power comes from a 205-horsepower 2.5-liter straight-six engine.

X Series

The X versions of the BMW are crossover sport utility vehicles marketed as "Sport Activity Vehicles." The X1, X3 and X5 models share the same all-wheel-drive 3 Series platform. The 2011 BMW X6 is a "Sport Activity Coupe" although instead of having two doors it's a five-door SUV with a hatchback. The three-liter six or the 4.4-liter V-8 provides the power.