Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, BMW
BMW M3 sedan to get coupe front end
While sightings of the upcoming BMW M3 Coupe have been near prolific, glimpses of Bavaria's bomber in sedan form have been harder to come by. We found one for you back in July, but that mule hardly told us anything about what the M3 Sedan would look like since it was wearing the stock front clip of the 3-Series sedan. As far as we know, the shots we link to above are some of the first of the M3 Sedan showing its production front clip, which appears to be nearly identical to the front fascia we expect to see on the M3 Coupe. What does this mean? It means the M3 Sedan's gonna be a hot number, foh sho. The standard 3-Series sedan, while not exactly uggo, is creased and stern looking, much like the mugs of the many business people who'll buy one. The coupe, however, is long, lean and graceful with a face that could launch a thousand ships. To see that visage on the M3 Sedan is a good thing, along with the 400-hp V8 that will be located directly behind it.
Thanks for the tip, Jason!
[Source: M3Post.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MC 3:06PM (12/21/2006)
Just what I needed, another reason to lust after this car...it's going to be awesome.
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Mr_Oak 3:11PM (12/21/2006)
So, they're admitting what I said all along, It was ugly.
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Steve C 3:23PM (12/21/2006)
MC, I agree with you totally. Now all we need is Estoril Blue and Daytona Violet back in the color chart
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M3 3:24PM (12/21/2006)
Not to long ago 400 hp was ferrari and 911 turbo territory. Amazing how fast the number jump. BMW is King.
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Brad 3:39PM (12/21/2006)
In the past, the M- versions have been differentiated (visually) by only small details like aero package, side vents, badging, and the trademark quad-exhaust.
I wonder if these changes will find their way onto the sedan for its mid-model facelift. I'd love it to happen to my 2010 335i.
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David P Brown 4:07PM (12/21/2006)
I hope that is the front end for the sedan. I love and own an E46 model, but just can't seem to like the E90 sedan. I do like the E92 coupe and if the M3 sedan gets the coupe front end...that would be mighty nice!
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Chet Parsons 4:14PM (12/21/2006)
Who care's about the sedan, where's the wagon?!?!?!?!
Coupe nose or not, make mine a M3 Touring.
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Sue Esponte 4:38PM (12/21/2006)
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! Please BMW NA, make Germany send us the M3 sedan this time. Do whatever you have to do. Don't let them dumb it down with a softer suspension or smaller tires. Just make it happen like our friends in Europe. Oh, and consider me order #1!
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C 5:07PM (12/21/2006)
So the 335i gets a twin-turbo I6 because a V8 would be too heavy. Everyone rejoices. The M3 gets a V8 because the RS4 has one. Everyone rejoices. What's the deal?
Is this a superlight V8 that would be impractical for the 335? Or is it just marketing hype winning out over low weight design? How about an M3 with an I6 making a few more horsepower, but dragging around a few hundred fewer pounds? (Cough -- M3 CSL -- cough)
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bgdc 5:31PM (12/21/2006)
Good for a laugh. As the current owner of a really ugly 2006 330i and the future owner of a 2008 335i (lease will run out in 08), I have to say I consider the ghastly 3 series coupe even uglier than the homely, comely BMW 3 series sedan. Shocking to see BMW keeps making uglier and more ungainly cars all the time.
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SOhp101 5:48PM (12/21/2006)
People are happy that the 335i not for that reason but primarily for the fact that its output ratings easily stand against the competition. People are are happy that the M3 is getting a V8 because those who will buy one like the sound of telling people that it has a V8.
Yes, marketing plays a huge factor into auto production, but I think a bigger factor in this area is cost reduction. It's cheaper to add two small turbos to the current I6 to make it up to par with competition and it's cheaper to take the M5 engine, take of two cylinders and plop it into the M3.
They've spent a ridiculous amount of money in developing both engines (definitely more so for the V10) so they're going to use it for as long as they can.
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Michael 6:57PM (12/21/2006)
Weird, BMW is going with the 3 series coupe front end for the M3 Sedan. The BMW M3 sedan I caught testing had the front end of the regular 3 series sedan, so I wonder what promted the change?
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PGAero 6:58PM (12/21/2006)
Brad, in the past, BMW made the e30 M3. Remember how that one was differentiated? The only body work it shared with the e30 coupe was the hood and sunroof panel. (Yes, the doors were even different.)
I must admit, though, that while the e30 M3 is one of my all-time favorite cars, the e36 was a sleeper in terms of aesthetics. I loved that about the e36. It looked good, but not hugely different from the 325/28/30.
Chet, I would drive an M3 touring too. And I would love to be razzed by others for driving a wagon.
~P
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E46M3Owner 7:17PM (12/21/2006)
I just hope this thing isn't as heavy as my e46 M3. I love the car, but it is too damn heavy. I'm not a fan of the e9x looks but if the new m3 came in at about 3100lbs or less I'd be all over it. My guess is it comes in at 3600lbs.
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shrapnel 10:10AM (12/22/2006)
SOhp101 - believe it or not, there are also people who buy M3s for reasons other than just telling people they have a ______(fill in the blank). If an 8 can make power without upsetting the balance of the car, then it is all fine. There are many that would prefer an inline 6 if it banished the threat of being nose heavy (like every Audi S4/RS4).
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JarryHames 11:03AM (12/22/2006)
How about the ass of the coupe? The car looks pretty agressive in the front with an ass like a disco'd Millenia. The seden's ass looks like a previous generation Civic sedan. It's sad because the M3s are fun to drive fosho!
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slicecom 10:17AM (12/24/2006)
They should give the sedan the REAR end of the coupe as well. I hate the rear of the sedan more than the front!
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Louie C. Parks Jr. 4:04AM (5/20/2007)
what a shame, looks like a chevy; i used to love the M3, and the simple, clean lines that defined the bmw. is everybody's taste inspired and infected by mtv and cheesy americana, or did "trick my truck" and "pimp my ride" producers drop a sh*&t grenade into the design blueprints for the 08/09 car?
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James Gordon Lewis 12:40PM (8/02/2007)
I agree with you, it could be a lot better designed.