535i
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Tuesday April 10, 2007 The M3 is dead, long live the M3! It's a bit like Bond, the BMW M3. Same name, but with different faces taking the role through the 21 years of its existence. And like Bond, there's a new star playing the M3. Two, actually. The first is the E92 Coupé derivative of the type, which has just had its production details announced, and which will go on sale in the third-quarter of this year, followed by the E90 sedan variant in 2008.
Looks like the standard E92 Coupe, but there are lots of signs that it isn't.Externally, apart from the load-bearing structure, the new BMW M3 Coupé carries over only the doors, bootlid, windows and front/rear lamps from the standard coupe. The front aluminium bonnet is one giveaway, with its striking powerdome and two air intakes providing the visual cues, as are the side gills, which is where the side repeaters and M3 logo sit.
Alright, so it may be a little harder to tell from this angle.The other giveaway is the carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic roof panel with exposed weave the M3 Coupé wears; it's the first full production car in its class to feature a CFP roof, which shaves 5kg off over a conventional roof panel and also helps lowers the centre of gravity in the process. At the rear, an aerodynamically-efficient diffuser emphasises BMW M’s trademark twin double exhaust pipes protruding from beneath the valance, and the bootlid features a discreet lip spoiler.
New. And willing.A new 4.0l V8 block powers the M3 Coupé, with 420bhp at 8,300rpm and 400Nm of torque at 3,900rpm being the figures. Redline is at 8,400rpm, and 85% of torque is available at 6,500rpm on. Transmission is the BMW M six-speed manual gearbox, with a Variable M differential lock in attendance. Rather tidily, the car's power-to-weight ratio is a neat 3.8kg per horsepower.
Stick shift lovers, rejoice!Like its larger M siblings, the new M3 Coupé also features an MDrive button that brings together numerous personalised functions of the car. This allows settings for the optional Electronic Damper Control (Normal, Comfort and Sport), three DSC+ traction control settings and three specific engine control maps, plus the response rate of the Servotronic power steering to be driver specified.
And how fast will she go?The vehicle features 18-inch double-spoke light-alloy wheels as standard, with a 19-inch option available. And because it is what it is, four special paintwork options exclusive to BMW M are available for it, besides the usual black, white, grey and graphite fare.
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