Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Review: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/11/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-bmw-m3-mt6/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/11/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-bmw-m3-mt6/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/11/in-the-autoblog-garage-2008-bmw-m3-mt6/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2008 BMW M3 MT6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Third-party performance tuners like Alpina, AMG, Brabus, Ruf and others have thrived in the land of the autobahn, typically modifying cars from one particular brand. In the late '70s, BMW became the first of the German automakers to establish its own in-house tuning division, incorporating its motorsports arm into what's now know as the M division. The firm's racing knowledge disseminated down to its production cars with the introduction of the M1 and later the M535i. In subsequent years, M followed up with the M5 and M3. Eventually Mercedes followed suit by buying out AMG, while Audi launched Quattro GmbH. Over the past two decades, M has continued to create ever faster iterations of mainstream Bimmers and for 2008 the M brain trust brings us the fourth generation of the M3.

The original 1986 M3 used the boxy body of the E30 3-series coupe, equipped with a high output, 16-valve four cylinder engine to homologate the body and engine for Group A touring car racing. Over the years, M3s, like all other BMWs (and pretty much every other car on the road), have grown bigger, heavier and more powerful. The E36 and E46 M3s both drew motive force from in-line six-cylinder engines ranging from 240hp to 333hp. The new E90-based M3 has what could turn out to be the ultimate engine of the series, with an all-new 4.0-liter V8 generating 414 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. But what's it like to live with? Follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: Review: 2008 BMW M3


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

Review: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 bmw m32008BmwM3bmwbmw m3bmw m3 coupeBmwM3BmwM3Coupefeaturedm3reviewFri, 11 Jul 2008 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 BMW M3 Coupe being marked up to $100,000]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/2008-bmw-m3-coupe-being-marked-up-to-100-000/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/2008-bmw-m3-coupe-being-marked-up-to-100-000/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/2008-bmw-m3-coupe-being-marked-up-to-100-000/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for more high-res pics of the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

We've been getting reports from all over that the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe has begun to arrive in U.S. dealerships. Dealers, however, have also begun taking advantage of the high interest in these Bavarian über coupes by marking up the price. Since we couldn't just take everyone's word for the extreme mark ups, we had to wait until someone surfaced with proof, which came today. Dragtimes.com is hosting an image of a brand spanking new M3 sitting in an unidentified California dealer at Century West BMW in North Hollywood with a window sticker displaying the car's $70,720 MSRP plus a $30,000 mark up. The extra monies demanded by the dealer is labeled as a "Dealer Market Adjustment" on the window sticker, which makes it seem like a special options package with heated seats and an extra cup holder. Rather, it's the reality that this dealer and many others know that someone out there will pay that much for a new 2008 BMW M3 Coupe. But as good a sports car as it the new M3 undoubtedly is, would you pay over $100,000 for it? Thanks for the tip, FikseGTS!

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3


[Source: Dragtimes]

2008 BMW M3 Coupe being marked up to $100,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 bmw m32008BmwM3bmwbmw m3BmwM3m3m3 dealer mark upm3 mark upm3 price gougingM3DealerMarkUpM3MarkUpM3PriceGougingMon, 10 Mar 2008 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Dutch fuzz get an E92 BMW M3 Coupe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/14/dutch-fuzz-get-an-e92-bmw-m3-coupe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/14/dutch-fuzz-get-an-e92-bmw-m3-coupe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/14/dutch-fuzz-get-an-e92-bmw-m3-coupe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click image for gallery

E92 M3 PoliceDutch speeders take note: the police have a new weapon in which to chase you down and write you tickets. And with its 420-horsepower V8, it's more than capable as a pursuit vehicle. The car, of course, is the new 2008 BMW M3, and if the burnout shot at right is any indication, the officers who get to drive the car are probably going to have a little more fun with it than the average patrol car. That's what we call a favorable work environment. And here we think it's cool when our local police departments get Chargers.

UPDATE: From a commenter - "It was a stunt from the local BMW dealer for the national police day, they removed the stickers the next day...same thing happened last year when the KLPD got a Spyker for a day."

Back to Opels (or whatever) for you, coppers!

Thanks for the tip, Lou.

[Source: M3Post]

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3 Police Car

Dutch fuzz get an E92 BMW M3 Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 bmw m32008BmwM3bmw m3 police carBmwM3PoliceCardutch policeDutchPolicee92e92 m3E92M3Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Gallery: BMW releases new batch of M3 photos]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/15/photo-gallery-bmw-releases-new-batch-of-m3-photos/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/15/photo-gallery-bmw-releases-new-batch-of-m3-photos/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/15/photo-gallery-bmw-releases-new-batch-of-m3-photos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for photo gallery

Sometimes, its nice to just take a break and look at pictures. We're here to help with that, as BMW UK has released a nice set of new right-hand-drive M3 photos for your enjoyment. Other than the fresh snaps, there's nothing new to tell about the V8-powered 2008 M3 Coupe, so while you're noshing on lunch, sit back, click, and enjoy the view.

[Source: BMW]

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe (UK)

Photo Gallery: BMW releases new batch of M3 photos originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 bmw m32008BmwM3bmw m3BmwM3m3Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 BMW M3 coupe priced from £50,625 in UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/24/2008-bmw-m3-coupe-priced-from-50-625-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/24/2008-bmw-m3-coupe-priced-from-50-625-in-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/24/2008-bmw-m3-coupe-priced-from-50-625-in-uk/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click above image for more high-res shots of the 2008 BMW M3

We're admittedly smitten over the new BMW M3 coupe and have passed along every morsel of information we've come across over the past few months. With the new M3 officially unveiled, however, the only real question left unanswered is how much it will cost. Today we've learned that if you live in Her Majesty's kingdom, a new 2008 BMW M3 coupe will cost you £50,625. If you're curious, that equates to $101,300.63 USD, which means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Along with being the most capable M3 ever produced, however, it's clear next year's model will also be the most expensive. That's the price you pay for a 420-hp V8 that can rush this Bimmer to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3

Continue reading 2008 BMW M3 coupe priced from £50,625 in UK

2008 BMW M3 coupe priced from £50,625 in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 BMW M32008 M32008BmwM32008M3BMW M3BmwM3BritainM3M3 coupeM3CoupeUKUnited KingdomUnitedKingdomTue, 24 Apr 2007 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Officially Official: Introducing the 2008 BMW M3 Coupé]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/officially-official-introducing-the-2008-bmw-m3-coupe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/officially-official-introducing-the-2008-bmw-m3-coupe/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/06/officially-official-introducing-the-2008-bmw-m3-coupe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for 35 high-res photos

We knew this was coming because the story broke a few days ago (Thanks, AutoWeek!), but it's always helpful when the automakers back it up with scads of photographs and the bona-fide PR details. Frank covered the essentials on April 3rd, and we recommend you check his post out if you haven't already. To review, here's a quick, bare-bones summary of the official details surrounding the '08 M3 Coupé:
  • First-ever V8 M3
  • New engine weighs 33 lbs. less than the outgoing M3's six-cylinder
  • 420 horsepower/295 lb-ft at 3900 rpm, 8400 rpm max engine speed
  • 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds, 155 mph top speed (electronically limited)
  • 6-speed manual tranny
  • MDrive - allows configuration and retrieval of driver-specific performance settings
  • All-new aluminum suspension
  • Carbon fiber reinforced roof
  • Usual complement of "M" appearance, aerodynamic upgrades. Minimal body panel carryover from 3-series coupe
  • Regenerative braking used to power the car's on-board network
The exhaustive press release from BMW is pasted after the jump, and gets deep into the nitty-gritty (with the usual caveat that all info posted relates to the Euro-model). We also have 35 new photos in the attached gallery for your enjoyment. Is it just us, or does the production M3 look even more striking than the M3 Concept shown in Geneva? Perhaps it's the photo car's Melbourne Red color, which goes nicely with the gunmetal grey wheels it sports. Now we want to see the sedan version!

[Source: BMW]

Gallery: 2008 BMW M3

Continue reading Officially Official: Introducing the 2008 BMW M3 Coupé

Officially Official: Introducing the 2008 BMW M3 Coupé originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 BMW M32008BmwM3m3m3 coupeM3CoupeFri, 06 Apr 2007 13:35:00 EST