Spy Shots: BMW M3 Cabrio
Those Bavarian wunderkind over at BMW just took the wraps off the latest 3-Series convertible, complete with folding hard-top. But even as impressive as the range-topping 335i is, what with its twin-turbo inline-six hitting the 300 mark in both horsepower and torque, there's yet more power underway: an all but completely undisguised M3 cabrio has been caught undergoing cold-weather testing way up north in Sweden, blasting past Saabs and Volvos.
Like the rest of the 3-Series convertible range, the M3 cabrio will feature a metal roof protecting four passengers from the elements and retracting at the push of a button to let the sunshine in. As with all M models, you'll be able to tell it apart from its more ordinary siblings by the wider fenders, sportier bumpers housing bigger air intakes and four exhaust tips, plus of course the requisite M badging. While the power bulge pictured on the hood is reportedly fake, under the hood is where the action is, where the M3 will pack a V8 pumping out over 400 horsepower, derived from the award-winning M5/6's V10 but with two cylinders lopped off. Power will be put down initially though BMW's Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) until the Bavarians are ready with their own anticipated dual-clutch gearbox.
Insiders predict the M3 coupe to bow at Frankfurt this coming September, but the convertible version probably won't be ready before 2008. Expect to take a penalty in both price and performance for the folding tin-top.
[Source: World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tool 8:01PM (1/14/2007)
What a terrific vehicle.
But the c-pillar (size/width and placement) is still growing on me.
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BMW M3 videos 7:18PM (1/14/2007)
BMW is really moving along on the M3 cars, and I see that it will not be a soft top.
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J Finz 8:07PM (1/14/2007)
how much low end power/torque?
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Drakarula 11:45AM (1/15/2007)
This will be the real ultimate driving machine!! I cant wait for this to come out. I can only hope the price is within reach!
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big jimmy 9:45PM (1/14/2007)
introduce the damn car already
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John 11:02PM (1/14/2007)
WOW! Judging by that picture I think it is going to look much different than I expected!
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Higher Ed 3:11AM (1/15/2007)
That is one bland looking car and looks like a bloated whale shark lmao. The 335i can take this fugly car easily and at how much the price?
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Silverstar 3:13AM (1/15/2007)
FUGLY piece of nothing, thing looks like a cartoon face.
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Sammy D. 3:33AM (1/15/2007)
hahaha "kicked out of the auto show":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnTUdLsuYJ8
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Mario Vos 9:12AM (1/15/2007)
We at Autovandaag.nl already showed pictures of the M3 as Coupe, Cabrio and Sedan before Christmas. Check them out at http://www.autovandaag.nl/?nieuwsitem=381
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G. Snyder 2:03PM (1/15/2007)
Higher Ed or Special Ed? How would a 335 "take" this car? This is not the current E46 M3 (which the 335 does not easily "take" anyway). You have no business commenting until you learn something about the BMW hierarchy of vehicles.
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John 5:17AM (1/18/2007)
I'm excited about this vehicle, yet not feel enthused to sell my E46 M3 in order to get this. The look of the upcoming M3 is not very appealing to me, even though everything besides aesthetics will sure be good.
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Nd4spd 4:49PM (4/06/2007)
This new M3 doesn't look very atletic, like the current M3. Is it me or did BMW miss the boat on making it look good?
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saluki 11:49AM (4/19/2007)
Nice hard top, so it should weight about what 4,000lbs?
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