When you look at the new M3 and what's under the hood, it's hard to imagine that when the first-generation model appeared in 1986, it was powered by a 192-hp, 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine. Yet it was a true performance car, winner of many awards and competitions. It also was a rival to the racy Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16.
22 years later, the M3 is still with us, and has achieved cult status. That's good and bad at the same time, because when you redesign the car, you must keep current owners coming back for more while attracting new buyers.
Familiar looks
The M3 is offered in coupe, sedan and cabriolet body styles. The regular 3-Series sedan, which has been redesigned first and which will get a mild refreshment this fall, benefits from a complete reshaped front end for the M transformation, including headlights, grille, hood and, more noticeably, the lower air intake. There are no fog lamps.
In back, the M3 sedan gets a lower rear diffuser with four tailpipes. From the side, the front fender air vents are easy clues that you aren't dealing with a garden-variety 3-Series. And just like on the previous M3, you'll find the hood bulge that, from the driver's seat, makes you feel like you're driving a vintage American musclecar.
Musclecar engine sounds
While the previous M3's inline-6 sounds like a turbine, the new model's 4.0-litre V8 burbles a little like a Detroit small-block. Its 414 horsepower are attained at 8,300 rpm, 100 revs shy of the redline. Peak torque is 295 lb-ft, and BMW claims 85% of that number is available from 2,000 rpm.
Yet the M3 isn't easy to launch from a standstill. As much as we tried, we couldn't come up with a better 0-100 km/h time than 5.8 seconds, despite the manufacturer's claim of 4.8 seconds. The quarter mile run is accomplished in 13.9 seconds at 162 km/h. It doesn't feel faster than a 2006 M3 which we drove back to back with the 2008 model (there was no 2007 M3 in Canada).
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| The M3 is offered in coupe, sedan and cabriolet body styles. |
22 years later, the M3 is still with us, and has achieved cult status. That's good and bad at the same time, because when you redesign the car, you must keep current owners coming back for more while attracting new buyers.
Familiar looks
The M3 is offered in coupe, sedan and cabriolet body styles. The regular 3-Series sedan, which has been redesigned first and which will get a mild refreshment this fall, benefits from a complete reshaped front end for the M transformation, including headlights, grille, hood and, more noticeably, the lower air intake. There are no fog lamps.
In back, the M3 sedan gets a lower rear diffuser with four tailpipes. From the side, the front fender air vents are easy clues that you aren't dealing with a garden-variety 3-Series. And just like on the previous M3, you'll find the hood bulge that, from the driver's seat, makes you feel like you're driving a vintage American musclecar.
Musclecar engine sounds
While the previous M3's inline-6 sounds like a turbine, the new model's 4.0-litre V8 burbles a little like a Detroit small-block. Its 414 horsepower are attained at 8,300 rpm, 100 revs shy of the redline. Peak torque is 295 lb-ft, and BMW claims 85% of that number is available from 2,000 rpm.
Yet the M3 isn't easy to launch from a standstill. As much as we tried, we couldn't come up with a better 0-100 km/h time than 5.8 seconds, despite the manufacturer's claim of 4.8 seconds. The quarter mile run is accomplished in 13.9 seconds at 162 km/h. It doesn't feel faster than a 2006 M3 which we drove back to back with the 2008 model (there was no 2007 M3 in Canada).
 |
| The new model's 4.0-litre V8 burbles a little like a Detroit small-block. |