Commute, Toy or Destroy – Battle of the BMW M3s
Which M3 Should Head to the Crusher?
We are back with this week’s installment of AutoGuide’s newest, interactive weekly feature “Commute, Toy or Destroy.”
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While it isn’t the first time this has happened, BMW’s M3 will be a sedan when the next generation arrives and the latest spy photos show it in its most recent prototype.
Rumors can finally be put to bed today, as the next-generation BMW M3 will run using a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.
Details are surfacing on the next-generation BMW M3, as we continue to wonder whether or not it’ll be offered with a manual transmission. It’s starting to appear that the sedan M3 model will be available with a dual-clutch transmission only, while the coupe M4 will probably see a manual option.
One of the most illustrious names in German sport sedan history, the BMW M3 will transition away from its naturally aspirated engine roots in the upcoming model meant to bow at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, doing so without a manual transmission.
BMW has announced a new special edition for the outgoing M3, called the Lime Rock Park edition.
Ten Turbocharged Cars We Can't Wait to Get Our Hands On
Turbocharged vehicles are quickly becoming the answer to having a fuel-efficient vehicle, with exciting performance. They seem to all be geared towards the sensible enthusiast, offering sporty dynamics, while still getting solid fuel efficiency.
Here’s some of the upcoming turbo-charged vehicles you can expect in the next few years. We’ve got some spy-pictures, and concept designs, even though some details of these cars are still unknown.
Fans of BMW‘s high-performance M Division (and who isn’t) have something big to look forward to: brand expansion far and beyond what we already know in the lineup according to BMW American CEO Ludwig Willisch.
Volvo is out to prove that even at the performance level it can compete with Germany’s luxury brands and is going about doing so with the Polestar S60.
Don’t think the new BMW M5, or M3 are performance oriented enough? BMW apparently knows the feeling, and is teasing new versions of the M3 Coupe and M5 Sedan.
While BMW is out testing its new, next-generation M3, automotive enthusiasts are speculating what will come underneath the hood when it’s finally released as a 2014 model year vehicle.
Initially it was believed that the 2014 M3 would see a tri-turbo, straight-six engine, but now a BMW insider is claiming that a 3.0L, twin-turbo V6 is in the works. In a way it makes sense, considering BMW is outfitting its M5 and M6 models with 4.4L, twin-turbo V8 engine.
Either way, one thing is for sure: the next-generation M3 won’t be seeing a naturally aspirated powerplant which it has had for the past 26 years. Natural improvements on the next-generation M3 include lighter weight components, helping it shave a few more pounds, and a possibility of electric power steering. Transmission options should remain six-speed manual with an updated seven-speed dual-clutch option.
Rumor has it that for the first time, the new BMW M3 sedan will surface first with the coupe following afterwards.
[Source: Inside Line]
BMW‘s M cars are always anxiously awaited by fans thanks to the legacy of performance that is attached to the brand. It seems the newest M badge to adorn a BWM will be attached to the 3-series, and our spy photographers snapped some spy photos of the M3 testing somewhere in Sweden.
Not much is known about the newest M3, but rumors have been suggesting that it will be powered by a tri-turbo 3.3L straight six, rather than the last generations larger V8. The tri-turbo setup looks to eliminate turbo lag, improve fuel efficiency and provide smooth acceleration and even power at low RPMs as well as high revs.
The newest iteration of the M3 does not appear to have changed that much style wise, staying quite close to the normal 3-Series design. The power and performance however will be upgraded and provide a much different driving experience from the normal 3-Series, as is the standard for all BMW M cars.
GALLERY:BMW M3 Spy Photos
BMW enthusiasts in the United Kingdom will get to enjoy a Limited Edition 500 model of the current-generation M3 Coupe and Convertible.
Limited to 500 units, the special edition mostly features aesthetic accessories including dark-chrome details on the double kidney grille, side fender plates and a quad-tipped exhaust setup. Additionally, it comes with the popular BMW high-gloss Shadowline exterior trim and 19-inch glossy black wheels. Buyers may choose from Imola Red, Mineral White and Santorini Blue paint — coincidentally the three colors found in the U.K. flag.
BMW outfitted the M3 500 interior with Novillo leather and color-matched stitching to the exterior of the car. The interior trim will be piano black but will be further accented with a laser-cut dash plaque that designates “one of 500.”
The same 420-hp V8 powerplant mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed M DCT remains under the hood.
Surprisingly, the M3 500 is reasonably priced with the Coupe package starting at close to $88,900 (£55,690) while the convertible will cost about $95,400 (£59,785). While that’s difficult to compare to U.S. figures on a standard M3, the Limited Edition 500 is only about $1,600 (£1,000) more than the standard M3 coupe and convertible price.
The corkscrew at Laguna Seca is one of the most noticeable landmarks in the world to any automotive enthusiast. So BMW got clever with the famous turn with a new marketing video for its X5M, proving that it can even best its M3 counterpart on the track.
The video starts out as your standard on-track video, with your good ‘ol bold text showing off that a vehicle packs a twin-turbo V8 with 555-hp and has a Torque Vectoring Rear Differential. That vehicle of course is the German automaker’s X5M. BMW then goes and showcases why the X5M is such a formidable vehicle on and off the track.
Check out the video after the break.
Attendees to the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, Canada might not get to ogle all the cool cars that we did in Detroit, but at least BMW brought something to show off: a special edition BMW Individual paint job.
Seen here is the Frozen Silver finish that was first offered on the M3 last year. The matte finish is sure to cause a commotion at the show.
We can’t find out the price of the BMW Individual Paint finishes on the North American sites, but they usually range between $4,500 and $5,000. We found the option on the U.K. BMW site, where it costs just £ 1,045 (about $1,642 USD) on the M5. Not a bad price for an exclusive finish.
Gallery: BMW M5 ‘Frozen Silver’
Those guys over at Autobild sure know how to have some fun. They decided to do grab every current BMW M model and pit them off against one another at Germany’s Sachsenring track in Bernsdorf.
The fastest time of the day from their shootout was BMW’s M3 GTS, equipped with semi-slicks with a time of 1:37.30 – but since we’re comparing apples to apples, the M3 CRT ran a time of 1:38.87 while the new M5 did it in 1:38.90. That’s a mere 0.03-seconds off the M3 CRT but it’s also worth mentioning that the new M5 was driven by Claudia Hürtgen, a German race car driver and one of Germany’s best known female racers, while the rest of the cars were driven by Autobild drivers.
The 1M Coupe ran a respectable 1:40.18, which was faster than the standard M3 Coupe DCT at 1:40.52. From there it was the M3 Sedan, M3 Convertible, X6 M, X5 M, and E60 M5 rounding off the list. To compare the two generations of M5, the E60 ran a 1:43.77, almost five seconds slower than its newer-generation counterpart.
Autobild also took the liberty to take Porsche‘s Panamera Turbo S and Mercedes-Benz‘s E63 AMG out to compare it to the new M5. The Panamera Turbo S ran a 1:38.13, trumping the new M5 by less than a second, while the E63 was quite behind with a 1:40.59.
Check out two Autobild videos of the new M5 after the break.
GALLERY: 2012 BMW M5
[Source: F10 5 Post via Autoblog]
Initially introduced in Europe half a year ago to commemorate 40 years of M, the BMW M3 Competition Edition will soon be available in the United States in an extremely limited amount of only 40 coupes.
The limited edition Competition coupe will only be available with a Frozen Silver exterior paint, M3 GTS 19-inch rims and finally complimented with dark chrome exterior trim pieces and dark exhaust tips. As for the M3 Competition’s interior, M logos throughout Black Novillo leather upholstery with Palladium Silver accents and an Alcantara M steering wheel allows for a truly special experience inside.
While the 414 V8 found in the regular M3 will be carried over to the Competition package, thanks to some tuning, the Competition will benefit from a reprogrammed “M” mode, 10 mm lower suspension set-up and will carry wider-offset wheels, all in the name of shaving 0.2 off the basic M3′s 0-60 time– from 4.7 seconds to just 4.5.
The unique Frozen Silver M3 Competition Edition coupe will begin at $81,060. Exclusivity comes with a price.
GALLERY: BMW M3 Competition Edition
First it was the bi-turbo V6 patent that leaked, and now BMW has filed for a patent on their electric turbocharger, leading to new rumors for what will potentially power the next generation M3. Ever since BMW started regularly employing turbochargers on their factory powerplants, they’ve been seeking ways to efficiently address the issues of turbocharger lag vs power at higher RPM.
The potential answer to the very old dilemma of turbochargers may be hidden in BMW’s plans for an electric turbo that was recently sent into the German patent office. The goal is to have an electric turbocharger that utilizes a small electric motor to work in tandem with a larger, more conventional turbo. The electric motor will power the electric turbo’s turbine during the transition from idle to load, drastically reducing turbo lag. In addition, BMW claims that the electric turbo will increase fuel efficiency by helping keep the engine in its optimum operating range.
What we’ll really see in the next generation M3 is still up in the air, but it’s great to see that BMW is looking to push the envelope in improving turbocharger technology that has been around for decades.
[Source: F30 Post]
BMW M3 owners looking to transform their ride to a GT-inspired race car lookalike can now turn to CLP Automotive’s Interceptor kit to accomplish the task. The full carbon fiber widebody conversion kit doesn’t come cheap though, priced at around $12,400. Your hard-earned dollars will get you a new front bumper, hood, fenders (with lower vents), side skirts, flared rear quarter panels, rear bumper and a rear spoiler.
Those looking to complete the entire transformation however, can shell out even more money to get a set of center-locking 19×9-inch (front) and 19×12-inch (rear) wheels – complete with conversion kit for the center lock – and Bilstein race suspension. To back it all up, CLP Automotive will also outfit your M3 with a G-Power supercharger kit, and Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, giving the M3 a new net horsepower of 600-hp. Inside, CLP also offers a roll cage and lightweight Recaro seats. The complete package (including the body kit) comes in at a little more than $96,500 but includes installation.
GALLERY: CLP Automotive BMW M3
GALLERY: BMW M3 GT Race Car
BMW has unveiled the M3 DTM, a high performance race car that will compete in the 2012 DTM (German Touring Car) series. The M3 debuted at BMW Welt in Munich, and is a very exciting event after a two decade absence of BMW at DTM. Between 1987 and 1992, the M3 won 40 race and had over 150 podium finishes in Germany’s premier tin-top series.
This race car features a carbonfibre-reinforced plastic monocoque (CFRP) with a steel roll cage, a six-speed sequential gearbox, and a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8. The M3 produces 480-hp and is capable of achieving a 0-62 mph time in three seconds with a top speed of 186 mph.
Three teams will race M3s in next year’s DTM series including BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG. “It is good to see how our DTM project is picking up speed,” explained BMW’s director of development Dr Klaus Draeger. “Next yea, BMW returns to the DTM after two decades. We will be facing our main competitors in the premium sector – and are already looking forward to this challenge.”
Check out the videos after the jump!
BMW has taken the cover off its jaw-dropping M3 DTM Concept Car, giving us a taste of what will hit the track in the upcoming 2012 DTM season. Even though the German automaker has announced that the looks of the car will most likely change considerably leading up to its first race, we hope they retain the general idea: an amazing badass race car.
BMW’s return to the DTM racing season will be with a CFRP monococque chassis with steel roll cage, a 6-speed sequential gearbox mated to a V8 engine with approximately 480-bhp.
Between 1987-1992, BMW’s M3 had over 150 podium finishes in the series and had no less than 40 wins. Confirmed drivers for BMW’s 2012 DTM season include Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus, both of which have impressive resumes in touring car and GT racing.
Three teams will be driving on BMW’s behalf next season: BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG. All three teams are working with BMW to fine-tune the M3 DTM race car along with their partners and sponsors which include Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Deutsche Post AG, Castrol Edge, H&R, SONAX, ZF Sachs and Sympatex.
The M3 DTM Concept Car is currently on display at BMW Welt as part of the DTM event in the Olympic Stadium.
GALLERY: BMW M3 DTM Concept Car
BMW will release a new special edition 335i, thanks to the high demand for the quick selling M3 Frozen Black Edition. The 335i Performance Edition will feature a boost in power and some distinguishing features.
BMW has announced an additional 20-hp and an extra 32 lb-ft of torque added to the standard model’s 300-hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. With the power boost, the BMW will be able to achieve a quicker 0-62 mph time of 5.3 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the stock 335i model.
Aesthetic differences will include black kidney grills and a “Performance Edition” badge. The Performance Edition 335i will also borrow interior trim from the M-Sport package 3-series. The 335i Performance Edition will be available in August and will cost an extra $550 price because of the performance upgrades.
Stay tuned for more info!
[Source: Top Speed]
Martino Auto Concepts in Glen Cove, New York, started out by specializing in repairing accident vehicles and are only one of eight facilities in North America to feature a Celette fixture bench and a Carbench Octopus. This allows Martino Auto Concepts (MAC for short) to become a factory approved BMW repair facility while having the capabilities of reconstructing some of the world’s finest exotics including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches. So naturally with all their talent and expertise, they decided to branch off to customizing high-end vehicles, and MAC Auto Couture was born in 2008.
To show off what their customizing division can do, MAC Auto Couture teamed up with BMW tuner Active Autowerke to build two completely killer BMW M3s with their own themes and personalities. Both feature Active Autowerke’s Stage II supercharger kits and custom paint jobs by MAC Auto Couture. From there, the rest of their accessories contrast one another to show off two complementary builds.
On the one side is a Matte Reventon-colored BMW M3 with a race-inspired theme, featuring an AE Performance roll cage and Stoptech’s Trophy big brake kit. Both of those components have been painted a flashy Ithaca Verde (the actual color of the other M3) which contrast the matte, dark exterior of the car. For aesthetics, Vorsteiner came into play with a GTS3 front bumper with carbon kevlar front splitters, a vented race hood with double sided carbon kevlar vents, a carbon kevlar rear diffuser and a carbon kevlar boot lid. Suspension comes from KW’s Clubsport coilovers while this M3 sports a 20-inch staggered set of ADV1 5.0 Trackspec wheels. STRI gauges along with Recaro’s Profi XL seats round off the race-styled look.
The other M3, featuring the Ithaca Verde exterior paint, features an all steel widebody conversion to the quarter panels, giving it an even bolder look. The roof is a full dry carbon fiber piece which is accompanied with Vorsteiner’s dry carbon front spoiler, rear diffuser and bootlid. The moldings and mirror bases have been painted matte black to contrast the bright green exterior while 20-inch D2 Forged CV2 wheels can be found on all four corners.
While the interior of this M3 also features a custom Ithaca Verde roll cage, this M3 received a much more luxurious interior treatment with reupholstered panels featuring green stitching. In the trunk is a custom JL Audio stereo installation, giving it a more complete in car electronics package.
We applaud MAC Auto Couture’s work on the pair of M3s, which really shows off how great a car can look when you pay attention to the details.
GALLERY: MAC Auto Couture / Active Autowerke BMW M3
