The tuned E92 M3 you see here is a very special car. It is one of the latest creations Tanabe-san of Powerhouse Amuse had the time to complete before his passing around this time last year. Tanabe-san was always a believer of combining power with lightness, with such projects as his S2000 time attack cars, the Carbon-R R34 GT-R not to mention the Z33 380RS Superleggera. His love for performance cars wasn't confined to JDM machinery however, applying his knowhow to BMW's M-division models like this M480 Concept.
n order to extract more performance a lot of work went into lightening the E92 with custom dry-carbon body parts starting with the front bumper and integrated front spoiler...
.the 3,999 cc V8 developing 420 PS in stock trim. The factory plastic engine cover remains, now painted silver, as well as the large air-box...
Thanks to a set of forged pistons, which raise the compression ratio to 13.6:1, as well as a pair of hand built titanium exhaust manifolds and sports catalysts...
not forgetting the full titanium exhaust system, the engine now develops 437 PS, a slight but impressive gain in power seeing the already highly strung nature of the high-revving V8. Response and mid-range torque also saw notable gains with a maximum of 42.6 kgm being developed at 3,854 rpm, which combined with the 1460 kg curb weight makes for explosive acceleration in any gear. That is a massive 220 kg drop from the 1680 kg stock weight!
This is achieved thanks to more carbon use like the custom designed trunk lid which sports a wild lip spoiler helping keep that rear end planted at higher speeds.
Massive 20-inch BBS LM-R wheels complement the aggressive exterior 9-inches wide at the front and 10-inches wide at the rear. Continental ContiSportContact rubber was chosen, 245/30/20 fore and 295/25/20 aft. The stock braking system is more than up to the job of slowing the car down even on track seeing the 220 kg drop in weight.
the doors that have brought the biggest weight gain, dry carbon but in total Amuse style not sacrificing quality, fit and finish. Just look at that perfectly executed weave and how the stock leather trim is retained.
...as well as the rear bumper...http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/Dino%20Dalle%20Carbonare/September2009/EricssonM3/EricssonM3-099.jpgExcept for some work carried out on the center console at the time of the shoot, there are no changes done to the interior, with the stock electrically adjustable seats still in place. The name M480 stands for the final power figure Tanabe-san intended to extract, something the guys at Amuse are still aiming for, as this M3 is very much a work in progress.just a teaserE61 5-SERIES WAGONhttp://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/Mike%20Garrett/1Sept/snap/5wagon.jpg
