Spain. The final frontier, or at least it seems to be in terms of places to drive quickly, safely and enjoyably with minimum intervention from the local authorities. What better place then to launch new cars? Well, BMW agreed and we were lucky enough to be invited to Seville to attend the new 3-series launch; luckier still to drive a selection of 3-series models on challenging Spanish roads and, to prove that you can have your cake and eat it, we were given the keys to a spanking new 330i to pedal back to the UK.

Work commitments meant I was unable to pop down for the ceremonies on the Friday (Shane will tell you about that in a separate article), but launches of this significance this don't happen everyday and so I jumped on a plane at Stansted to meet the boss somewhere along the return route. This transpired to be Valladolid, where a beaming individual who had just charged through Spain's arid south greeted me. Editor O' Donoghue has been cruising at a naughty speed for a few hours, enjoying sweeping roads and lunatic locals for company. He's not saying too much about the car as he doesn't want to influence my own thoughts, but his grin is giving away a lot of unspoken information.

Our steed for the 1,700 odd mile journey home is a 'Monaco Blue' 330i automatic. When we get to it in the car park it is attracting some fairly amorous looks from the local señoras, an all too infrequent opportunity for two average Brits to enjoy such lingering stares. We pretend it's not the car; we're kidding ourselves. The new 3 is Bangle's least adventurous offering but it looks fresh, modern, distinctively sporty and cool, and I should add, much better in the metal than in most photographs. Short overhangs and tight lines remain whilst the over fussy detailing found on other recent BMWs is noticeable by its absence. You can only mess so much with your bread and butter model.

First impressions of the cabin are highly favourable: there is a definite air of quality in terms of design and execution with top-drawer materials. One thing really stands out about the new 3-series compared to the outgoing version though: space, and bags of it. This is the first 3-series in which the rear occupants will travel in as much comfort as those up front. The ergonomics in terms of the shape of the seats and the like has also improved. Electrically adjusted seat tweaked to taste and steering wheel set just so I turn the key to be greeted with a hushed starter whirring followed by a distant hum. A gratuitous stab of throttle (the ladies are still watching after all) allows the straight-six to be heard but it is strikingly quiet at rest. Even the air conditioning, working at full chat in the early Spring heat, makes hardly a whisper.

Getting underway, the new steering feels significantly weightier than I remember the old Three's but the rest of the controls are their usual well weighted and damped selves. Pulling out onto Spanish main roads and tuning into the new car reveals several things. Firstly, that the EU may not be to everybody's liking, but one of the plus points is the Spanish road network. Billiard table smooth stretches of freshly laid tarmac traverse the country courtesy of subsidies that (and this is a crying shame) don't quite stretch to the accoutrements, such as speed cameras. This leads to the second realisation: the Spanish really do like to get where they are going. I'm observing the posted limits for a while when my travelling companion enquires what I'm playing at. I'm always conscious of license preservation; it appears the Spanish aren't, or at least don't need to be. Within 5km a variety of ramshackle '80s offerings from Peugeot, Talbot and Renault and, altogether more tellingly, a bus have overtaken me; 80km/h appears to be optional.

Buoyed by this I do what one has to do in the face of humiliation, push the six-speed auto box's lever left into Sport, nudge it back three times and introduce pedal to bulk head. The 258bhp 3-litre six breathes in deep, emitting a lovely induction growl and the car immediately responds to the request for pace. Throttle response of the new double Vanos and Valvetronic equipped six is only bettered by the noise it makes. For now a brief blast beyond the limit is sufficient to confirm that the new 330i is quick; 10 years ago this performance would've been worthy of an M badge. How quickly the game moves on. Sixty-in-six feels about right, 155mph all out not in question. I engage cruise at the pace set by the locals and head onwards to the motorway.

After 15 or 20 minutes something becomes very apparent by its absence: noise. We're sitting at 80-90mph and with the stereo turned down we are in relative silence. Zero wind noise is evident, the six is just about audible and road noise is remarkably well isolated. For those who pound out the miles on the motorways the new 3-series will be a soothing companion. The quality of the ride over ridges and bumps adds to this, though I'm a little worried that this compliance may be at the detriment of the handling.

This worry is ill founded. The Spanish do love a corner; random corners are a particular speciality and to add a little more interest, let's put them on motorways. A volley of brake lights ahead gives prior warning, but a keen curiosity means I take it as a cautionary signal and not a necessity. In all honesty I arrive at the corner a good 10mph quicker than would be ideal in most circumstances to notice that the Armco bears the scars of the unwary and over confident. Still, too late now; turn in and marvel at how well weighted the steering is now you're travelling at an appropriate pace; marvel again at the way the 3-series grips and corners flat and in complete neutrality. I exit the corner with a wisp of remorse I didn't go in 10mph more quickly.

In such instances, if you have the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system engaged, the new 3-series will nanny you through, braking individual wheels to keep things in order and cling to the intended path. Although we disengaged the system most of the time, we did try hard cornering with it turned on and you can feel the trickery working its magic behind the scenes. Clever stuff. The latest generation braking system is equally smart, brushing water off the discs in the rain whilst allowing gut wrenching speed retardation before the ABS cuts in to stop in the optimum distance, all the while working with the DSC to look after you the best it can. Should all else fail a plethora of airbags will do its level best to protect you and yours.

Happily we're not thinking about such things. We're on the Spanish motorway being ogled by the locals. This must be the first new 3-series they've seen and they're making sure they get a look. A new car on UK plates stands out in Spain, but the fact that it is what it is ensures attention from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and existing BMW owners in particular. The roads are fairly empty and such are the conditions that high speed cruising is the norm. Several cars sweep past at big speeds and I remain, cruise control engaged, travelling at a relative ambling pace. This lasts a short while before the curiosity factor raises its head again. Same procedure as before: nudge lever left, pull back twice, and plant size 10. Hmmm. Suffice to say that my experiment revealed a few more things. The 330i is solid at three figure speeds remaining secure and composed. It also remains very refined - probably more so than the previous 5-series. Most amusingly I have a hunch that the 155mph speed limiter is a tad soft. That's just a hunch you understand.

After 400 miles of Spanish roads the 330i and its occupants need fuel. Considering the pace we're impressed by the economy: over 25mpg is a good result. I'm not altogether surprised having driven the 630i, fitted with the same engine, a few weeks earlier. The confirmation of the completeness of this new straight six's abilities is welcoming; it reaffirms its status as one of the best engines in production at the moment.

Next up is a joyous blast through the Pyrenees and into France, through an assortment of tunnels and precariously routed motorway carved into the mountainside. These roads are devoured in much the same way as the miles before: effortlessly. Through France and as darkness falls the decision is made to go for the UK and home in one hit. Such decisions wouldn't be made in many cars. The 330i makes it a no-brainer. We plunge into the darkness and relentlessly count down the miles with the aid of the excellent satnav, maintaining a good pace, but much reduced from that in Spain. French traffic police are a little more enthusiastic about law enforcement, particularly where UK registered cars are concerned and while my license may be safe from points, my cash card wouldn't cope with a fine. The 330i is well capable of cruising all night at high speed, but this dynamic cheque is one that I can't afford to cash.

We arrive at the Chunnel terminal in the small hours with enough time for a chocolat chaud et un autre sandwich du jambon. We're tired, but more from the concentration of observing speed limits than a shortcoming in the car's ability. A ride through the tunnel and a 2-hour drive on the other side and we're home just after sunrise. Getting out of the car and watching it blast away I feel a little sorry, sorry for the engineers at Audi, Mercedes-Benz et al who have to try and match the latest BMW 3-series. That is not going to be an easy task.

Conclusions from the trip are as follows: number one, Spanish roads offer some of the best driving available; France's don't. Two, being paid to do this job is frankly a little bit of a mickey take, but I suppose somebody has to do it. Three, driving through Europe is much more enjoyable than flying over it. Finally, and most pertinent of all, the new BMW 3-series is good. How good? Good enough to make you question whether you'd really need that 5-series, as space is no longer a justification. Also, do you need any more real world poke than the 330i offers? Does the balance of ride, handling and sporting prowess render the weekend toy useless? Finally, is there a better small sporting executive saloon on the market? Many of those questions will be up for some debate. The final one isn't for me. The answer is simply: no.