Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, BMW
Production BMW M3 revealed
Click image for photo gallery
The car won't go on sale until the middle of next year in the States, but we have a seemingly insatiable appetite for any information about BMW's 4th generation M3. Spy photos, technical tidbits, rumors, and whatnot have all been featured on this site, but now we have the real deal. Finally. The folks at AutoWeek just broke their article on this newest M3 and the overall opinion seems to match our expectations and alleviate our concerns at the same time. And the car is coming none too soon. With the new Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Black Series and the Audi RS5 set to debut in the near future as well, BMW needs its best and brightest on the front line.
As tends to be true of virtually every model on the market, the new M3 has grown up a bit in the evolution from E46 to E92. More GT than boy racer, it should still provide plenty of thrills for drivers. In place of the smooth-revving 3.2-liter straight-six goes a 30-pound-lighter, 4.0-liter V8 that is essentially a sawed-off M5 V10. It features an aluminum block, magnesium cam covers and aluminum-silicon alloy in the crankcase and produces 420 hp at 8300 rpm, and 295 lb-ft at 3900 rpm. Redline is at 8400, and AW promises a sound that is at least as sweet as the outgoing six, but with an added heft at the low end thanks to the extra two cylinders. All of that power is routed through a proper 6-speed stick too. Are those angels we hear singing?
[Source: AutoWeek]
Gallery: 2008 BMW M3
The new M3 also features every gadget BMW could fit it with. Regenerative braking, ABS, ASC, CBC and DSC among other technology will help keep this M well-planted but will still allow it to get a little wild from time to time. AW also hints that we might see a double-clutch gearbox fairly soon after the stick, because BMW doesn't seem to be talking about any DSG sequential-manual gearbox option this go-around. BMW projects the 0-62 at 4.8 sec, which seems a bit conservative to us, but these were never really intended to be drag racers.
Expect to see convertible, sedan and even possibly wagon versions down the road, with the convertible using an aluminum hard top in place of the hardtop's carbon fiber roof, in all likelihood. Click over to AutoWeek for more details about this highly anticipated new BMW.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dskinner 12:43PM (4/03/2007)
I'll take the new 4.0L over the 3.2L anyday, and that 3.2L was awsome! The body on the other hand... I still like the E46 a little bit more. This one is a lot more sophisticated looking, but I'll miss the last gen M3. Either way, BMW's M3 continue's to be a timeless masterpiece.
Reply
Turbofrog 12:45PM (4/03/2007)
This body style's a little bit too subtle, but I'm sure I'll still be impressed when I see it in person. The outgoing M3 is one of the best looking "normal" cars around, though, so it's no surprise that this can't quite match it.
Reply
P. Andco 12:49PM (4/03/2007)
Ah, M3, we meet at last. I am pleased with this new design. It gives the M3 a much sportier look, something the E46 could never quite accomplish. This is modern and has enough distinction from the regular coupe. The real story here is how the new Audi will compare.
Reply
Keith 1:05PM (4/03/2007)
I'm not a fan of the hood at all. It looks great from the front, but the side shots look horrible to me. But, i'm sure the growl of the V8 will fix it.
Reply
Proud Japanese 1:08PM (4/03/2007)
I still think the E30 body was the best. I am waiting for some nutcase to shoehorn the M5 5L V10 into one.
Reply
Endurancevm 1:09PM (4/03/2007)
Hopefully this new M3 will at last be able to beat the Focus RS around the Top Gear track!
Oh and the engine sounds like diarrhea being shot out of an obese individual after eating 23 tacos.
Reply
tweezy 1:13PM (4/03/2007)
Yeah the body work is subtle, but the hood is aggressive. Parts of the car aren't working with each other.
The previous M3 was smooth and muscular, it looked good from all angles. This new model looks okay from the front and the rear, but in profile, the hood looks like a tumor.
I'm sure the performance is there, but this car is lacking some of that Q Car appeal the old model had.
Reply
fragmaster170 1:15PM (4/03/2007)
#5, why stop at a V-10?
http://www.bmw-power.de/Fahrzeuge/E30_350i_stelze/350_v12_8.jpg
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 1:17PM (4/03/2007)
I've seen that hood recently. It's taken straight off the new Impreza.
Actually, except for two vertical bars in the air intake, it's very close to the new Impreza front end.
I'm trying to work out how this is a good thing.
Reply
jscro 1:25PM (4/03/2007)
Anyone know the weight of this thing?
Reply
SSBR 1:47PM (4/03/2007)
Looks like we have a winner folks!
http://www.rolesor.com
Reply
Carguy 1:54PM (4/03/2007)
"The new M3 also features every gadget BMW could fit it with. Regenerative braking..."
Apparently, its a hybrid too....
Reply
Rob 2:02PM (4/03/2007)
Am I the only one slightly sad that BMW is leaving the inline 6 engine design behind?
Reply
Young 2:10PM (4/03/2007)
The new V-8 better sounds better than the S54, because I thought the E46 M3 I-6 sounded like crap and was the drivetrain's worst feature! As for the body, its way too subtle... When will BMW make cars for the enthusiast again???
Reply
steve 2:13PM (4/03/2007)
an old man car that happens to be fast --will it fit golf clubs in the trunk? who the f@#c cares
Reply
the vette makes them wet 2:14PM (4/03/2007)
#13 - I love the inline 6s. Any inline multiple of 3 cylinders has inherently the least vibration of any configuration.
Reply
LOPZ 2:21PM (4/03/2007)
It's OK but not enough torque for street fun as compared to RS4 and others. I'm going with the 335i which after inexpensive work on those turbo's will give a lot more bang for the buck.
Reply
Proud Japanese 2:22PM (4/03/2007)
@fragmaster: Holy shit, where do I find more about it.
Reply
White Goodman 2:29PM (4/03/2007)
Too bad everything in front of the A-pillar got beat the f up by the king ugly stick.
But since it's got a blue and white roundel on the front, people will line up to fork over mucho dinero for it.
Reply
Mattlach 2:38PM (4/03/2007)
#2 Turbo-frog
Funny thing that. Right before I read your comment I was looking at the pictures of the new M3 and thinking, BMW are going back to the roots of the M branding with cars that are only distinguished subtly from their more pedestrian counterparts.
This excited me a lot, as I - for one - thought there was WAY too much bling going on in the E46 m3. I liked the E36 better than I liked the E46 for that very reason.
Reply