Production BMW M3 revealed
04-04-07, 10:40 AM
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Production BMW M3 revealed
Posted Apr 3rd 2007 12:35PM by Frank Filipponio
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]
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]
04-04-07, 12:52 PM
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Apparently those are not actual production pics. Maybe pics of the car running the ring. I really doubt that even with some of the M3's love it or hate it styling cues, that they would shoot such horrible photography to introduce the car.
All automakers make it a habit to shadow out the driver. These pictures don't show that.
All automakers make it a habit to shadow out the driver. These pictures don't show that.
04-04-07, 12:56 PM
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290 lbs/ft tq from a 4.0L N/A engine sounds about right. Tq measured @ the crank is not everything, it's the gearing that delivered the tq to the wheels that matters.
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04-04-07, 01:02 PM
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Torque is important, but if 290lbs of Torque gets the M3 moving enough (it is going to be lighter) and 400Hp keeps it there launching, then it is not a problem.
Don't be soo critical... This car will do a few things right...
Don't be soo critical... This car will do a few things right...
04-04-07, 01:05 PM
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Yes, it will definitely do a few things right, but the M3 is no longer the "godly" car that many believe it is.
04-04-07, 01:06 PM
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IMHO, I don't think this engine has much room to grow unless FI. Just like the high rev ITR & S2K engines, I am suspecting there is very little gain from adding intake, headers & exhaust.
04-04-07, 01:07 PM
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Good to see it in production. The bimmer forum guys are crying about E46 M3 prices falling, now they should fall even more, and I can scoop one up for 30k, the old E46 looks way better too.
04-04-07, 01:08 PM
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I agree. This engine has many race technologies employed in it. Not much else you can do, except increase displacement.
04-04-07, 01:09 PM
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Plus, where's the wide body stance that the 3rd gen M3 has. That's one of the things that made the last M3 so great.
Oh well, I'm used to seeing Bimmers go down the tubes.
04-04-07, 01:13 PM
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