M3 Specs released in the wild
You're well acquainted with the speculation and rumors surrounding the upcoming release of the M3. Up until this point though, all we've had are blurry spy shots and chance encounters captured by fellow gearheads. However, two Bimmer-centric sites have dropped some very specific, albeit dubious, information about the price, options and most important, power figures, that will find adorn BMW's newest driver's car.
Engine output, although rated in kW and Nm on the sites, equates to 412 hp and 310 lb./ft., right within the range the boys in Munich estimated when pressed for details. Additionally, the engine will be a 4-liter V8, equipped with bi-VANOS and will send power through either a 3rd generation 7-speed SMG or a 6-speed manual. No word on what which transmission will come standard.
Pricing, with the applicable import costs will be $53,975, a mere $5k over the current 2006 model.
All the sordid details, pulled straight from the two posts can be found after the jump.
Major Standard Equipment
Adaptive Xenon Headlights
Carbon Fiber Roof
SMG III 7-Speed transmission with DRIVELOGIC
18" M Double Spoke Alloy Wheel
18x8F/18x9R with P235/45ZR18 Front, P265/40ZR18 Rear Performance tires.
Invoice $49,117
Base Price USA Port of Entry* $53,975
Vehicle Options List
Metallic paint $475
Nappa leather $1,450
Carbon fiber trim $300
Aluminum trim NC
Comfort Access $500
M Multifunction Seats with Active Width Adjustment $1,900
Front Heated Seats $500 / ZCW
Power Rear Sunshade $350
Head-Up Display $1,000
Navigation System w/I-Drive $2,100
Power Rear Sunshade $350
Rear Park Distance Control $350
19" M Double Spoke alloy wheel $1,750
19x8.5F/19x9.5R with P235/40ZR19 Front, P265/35ZR19 Rear Performance tires.
Logic 7 sound system $1,200
SIRIUS Satellite Radio $595
High Definition Radio $500
Premium Package (ZPP) $3,100
Cold Weather Package (ZCW) $750
6-speed manual transmission NC
Rear Spoiler Deletion NC
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Daniel 8:17AM (8/18/2006)
What I really want to know is if it is going to be offered as a sedan as well.
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amp 8:22AM (8/18/2006)
A mere $5k? That's more than a 10% boost. Not too many other cars come with a 10% price hike when a new model comes out. Yes I know that the performance will more than likely blow your mind, but the sticker is starting to do the same thing as well. Just to throw this out there, when the current C6 Corvette came out, it was actually priced less than the outgoing C5, despite the fact that every performance number was improved.
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policyvote 8:26AM (8/18/2006)
SORDID details, not sorted details.
I love your site, and read it every day, but in professional writing these constant errors are really glaring. Whoever's editing needs to step it up.
Peace
policy
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BoZs13 8:27AM (8/18/2006)
this is not a corvette, this is an amazing car...with engineers that have been so careful to look at every detail...unlike the corvette = bigger engine, more power, better bla blah...yay awesome car
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K-man 8:32AM (8/18/2006)
"bimmer"... or if you're not sure just write "BMW", that will work too.
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Ken 8:34AM (8/18/2006)
Where's the bitching about "Who needs a car w/ 400+ HP? Come one you Prius pansies! Let's be consistant. This may not be a Ford/GM SUV, but it's not any more neccesary.
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Manolo 8:39AM (8/18/2006)
Hey Ken, we know it is not necessary, but the difference with SUVs is that you see 4 or 5 per week and not 4,000 or 5,000 !
Unecessary cars in small quantities are not the same than unecessary cars/SUVs/gas guzzlers by the gazillions...
The damage M3s couse to the environment is totally unmaterial compared with all the pick-up trucks, SUVs and other gas guzzlers out there...
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Al Eisensteinium 8:43AM (8/18/2006)
#3 - an editor? That's a good one. Clearly the inmates are running the asylum. No one with basic English skills is proofreading the blog, that much is certain.
And who knows, perhaps the details were
sorted. Then the list was comprised. And they all dawned hats. Even after the car was overhailed, the point was still mute.
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Olivier 8:46AM (8/18/2006)
In other news, this car should retail for a min £45k ($85K) in the UK and this is despite the car being produced in the EU for a EU country (so no import duties).
$50K will get you a 130i here in the UK (beurk)
Ferfuksake BMW give us some value too.
I'm gonna vote with my walet on this one and just not buy it.
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MikeInNC 8:49AM (8/18/2006)
#5 is correct. 'Beemer' refers to BMW motorcycles. 'Bimmer' referes to their cars. The average person doesn't know that but, we are car nuts. We should indeed get that right.
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Willie Dynamite 9:08AM (8/18/2006)
Indeed, Al (Eisensteinium - #8). It's a pity that Autoblog, once affluent with pithy posts and comments, has joined the effluent of autospies and autoweek's Combustion Chamber.
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Kevin 9:15AM (8/18/2006)
Loved your post, Eisensteinium!
Does anyone know of a car blog that actually PROOFREADS their posts? The market is ripe for one.
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jason seto 9:16AM (8/18/2006)
um...it's pretty clear that they are offering the choice of either transmission as standard since it doesn't have a cost for either transmission....
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Jeff 9:50AM (8/18/2006)
I haven't seen many blogs of any kind that proofread with any effectiveness. That drives me nuts.
By the way, Manolo, I think you mean "immaterial", not "unmaterial".
Also, what does "310 lb./tq." mean? Try 310 lb.-ft. or 310 ft.-lb.; either way is just fine. I have heard people say that a car has, for example, "200 pounds per foot of torque" which is incorrect.
Just a pet peeve of mine.
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kag 10:28AM (8/18/2006)
I don't think it's a proofreading problem. It's not a spelling or spell check problem either. The problem here is trying to sound smarter than you are.
Sorted.
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Sid 10:48AM (8/18/2006)
Pug fugly
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Gooch 10:54AM (8/18/2006)
Back to the car itself -- I trust that BMW will advance it over the E46 M3, which in my estimation is one of the best all-around cars in the world. I know Car and Driver said it had a hard ride and yada yada, but during the test drive I took, it was very smooth and very fast and the ride was better than I expected (in the same way as my '82 Z28 that C/D claimed rode so harshly). The new M3 will be offered in four-door guise as well, from what I've heard on Edmunds.com. Pretty soon, I will be in the market for a used E46 M3, and I can't wait for the new one to come out so I can compare the two and figure out whether I want to save up for the new one or drop 35-40K on a used one.
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Rando 11:21AM (8/18/2006)
What do you guys think of that front opening? (in the front bumper) I don't like the shape, which is opposite of the old M3's (and M5's and M6's)... I am hoping it was just some fake cladding to throw people off...
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G. Snyder 11:28AM (8/18/2006)
"No word on what which transmission will come standard.
"
How so? It says that the 6 speed manual will be a no-charge (NC) option. Did you read the article yourselves? All in all, between the bad grammar and inccorect references, this has to be one of the worst posts by Autoblog. Is this some type of experiment wherein special-ed grade-schoolers are allowed to post?
The next generation SMG will be standard with a conventional manual as an option (just as the M5/6 next year).
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Hung2 11:47AM (8/18/2006)
I'm with Daniel (post #1). Give it to us as a sedan!!
And knock off this silly notion of paying extra for things such as the Logic 7 stereo upgrade which is STANDARD equipment in the 330i now. Jeeze!
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