Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs
Spy Shots: 2006 BMW M3
German spy photographers have caught the new BMW E90 M3 while undergoing testing on the Nurburgring. The capture of an M3 sedan in the wild is significant, as this confirms the first appearance of the 4-door M3 since the E36. GermanCarFans also notes that the hood of the M3 has been modified to make room for what is most likely a 400-hp V8. Unfortunately it's unclear what the M3 will look like as stock 3-series bumpers and fascia were used for this tester. The article does have some nice artist's renderings of the mug this car will most likely be wearing when it debuts early next year.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
omg 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
each iteration of the m3 grows further from the original concept. 4 cylinders became 6, 6 became 8. and don't even get me started on how portly its become. yet its still an object of my desire. damn that m3 name and its brand recognition. hopefully the csl will make it to our shores, with AC, and for a reasonable price.
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rc51 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Well at least BMW is continuing along the path of
UGLY!
GEEZ, can Bangle beat it with the ugly stick anymore. He certainly ruined a company that produced some beautiful cars.
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SirFrankWilliams 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
but why make a sedan version? this will just hurt the sportiness of the M3 lineup.
thumbs down.
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Drag Racing 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
The M3 sedan is a great addition to the M lineup. They need something to compete against the C55 AMG, S4, CTS-V and other high performance smaller sized 4 door sedans. Of course by the time the M3 sedan gets over here, Mercedes will have a ~450 HP C Class to run right by the new M3 sedan.
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CcntMnky 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Does anybody find it odd that they would disguise the bodywork, but still put an M3 badge on the back? Not to mention, the badge looks kinda fake.
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AmazingLArry 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
CcntMnky, the last two photos in GermanCarFans.com photo album are photoshops with captions "BMW M3 artists rendering" just underneath the right side corner. Doh...
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nastinupe 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
This is NOT the 2006 M3. The 2006 M3 will look like the 2001-2005 E46 M3. Also, the M3 is NOT going to come in a 4 door first. It will be introduced as a 2007 model in the fall of 2006 as a 2 door model as usual.
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Robert Aitchison 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
Argh, how many high performance sedans does the market really need?
If they wanted a 4 door M3 they should have gone with an estate instead of a saloon, cars like the Magnum & WRX have shown that wagons can sell well, even in the U.S..
Of course convincing an automotive executive who's job it is to green light such things that Americans want something besides 4 doors and an impractical tunk is akin to parting the red sea.
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Anthony 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
I'm tired of all the comments about BMW's styling. I happen to like it and I love the new 3 series.
Frankly all I'm worried about is if BMW will come back to the ALMS with this car now that the "GTR" is a legal, mass produced production car and buy winning the 'Ring 24 hours earlier this year, a very competitive car vs the Porsche 911/996 GT3 RS
Hopefully BMW will use PTG in the US and Schitzer in Europe to run these cars in the ALMS (US) and LMES (EU) and FIA N-GT (EU)
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Kareem 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
I don't understand why BMW would want to manufacture a 4-door M3 when they already have the M5? I understand how some people feel about the new styling of the BMWs as of lately. I actually like the new 3 series and the 5. However, I think BMW needs to do more to set the M3 and the M5 apart from the 3 and 5 series because if the depictions I keep seeing all over the internet are accurate, the new M3 and the M5 are simply the 3 and 5 series on steroids.
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DAVID HAMILTON 11:06PM (12/18/2005)
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY BMW HAD TO DESTROY THEIR BEAUTIFUL CAR LINE UP STARTING WITH THE 7 SERIES THE TO THE FIVE AND NOW TO THE 3. NOTICE THE M-3 2006 MODEL STILL HAS THE OLD NONFACETED, NON-BOXY, WITH WHEEL WELLS THAT FIT THE WHEELS LOOK. I GUESS THEY WILL CONTINUE THE UGLY STICK TOUCHING OF EVEN THE M3 FOR 2007. THE ONLY GOOD LOOKING CARW BMW MAKES NOW ARE THE 4.8 X-5 AND THE Z SERIES. VERY SAD. HAMBONE OUT.
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