Hyundai Elantra Launch Review
American Honda Civic Sedan spied for the first tim...
Jaguar to preview 2012 XK with Paris concept
Audi Downsizes
BMW M3
The BMW M3 is currently one of the most appreciated performance models on the market, stunning everyone with its balance and capability of being an everyday car but also offer some extreme thrills when you put your foot down. The 2010 BMW M3 is a phenomenal performer — providing speed, agility and comfort all in one package. Whereas the 3-Series impresses, the M3 astounds. Introduced in 1988, the M3 has quickly risen to become an industry favorite for combining the 3-Series’ unparalleled balance and handling dynamics with a smooth 414-horsepower V8 engine. Together, the M3 is nothing short of incredible.
Truly unprecedented, however, is the thrust and pulling force generated through this unique potential, conveying the supreme power of the engine through the variable M differential lock to the rear wheels. Acceleration to 100 km/h comes in just 4.8 seconds, and the car continues this mind-boggling performance with fascinating consistency all the way to its top speed of 250 km/h or 155 mph, where the engine electronics set an artificial limit to the ongoing power and performance of the new BMW M3.
The eight-cylinder nevertheless owes its most striking and distinctive forte to the high-speed engine concept so typical of BMW M: Revving all the way to 8,400 rpm, the new power unit offers supreme muscle and performance at all times.
Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a six-speed manual gearbox interacting with brand-new final drive. This combination alone provides an acceleration and power potential reminiscent in its spontaneity and endurance to the dynamic potential of a thoroughbred racing car.
Over and above specific output of 105 hp per litre, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 12.4 litres/100 km (equal to 22.8 mpg Imp) offers a clear expression of the engineering skill so characteristic of the engine specialists at BMW M GmbH.
Aluminium suspension for driving pleasure of the highest standard. Smoothly and efficiently sharing out steering and drive forces on the front and rear axle, the chassis and suspension of the new BMW M3 provides the ideal foundation right from the start for particularly dynamic performance and driving characteristics. The chassis of the new BMW M3 is indeed a brand-new development from the ground up, seeking to cope from the start with the significant increase in drive power and save a lot of weight in the process.
Athletic body design as a visible expression of superior power. The exterior of the new BMW M3 was designed and developed from the start to give the car a truly unique and sporting look. So applying the principle of “form follows function”, the designers at BMW M GmbH, in giving the body of the car its particular look and appearance, have succeeded in finding a perfect match of supreme technology, on the one hand, and authentic sporting design, on the other.
Reflecting this clear-cut principle, the engine compartment lid made of aluminium features an impressive powerdome right in the middle. Light and shade effects creating a firm and taut side-line.
The powerfully chiselled front wheel arches on the new BMW M3 stand out clearly as a symbol of supreme agility and driving stability. Together with the weight-optimised 18-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design again so typical of a BMW M, the wheel arches accentuate the particularly wide track of the car.
The interior, in turn, supplements this supreme flair, seeking to offer the driver an unparalleled driving experience and all the other occupants a beautiful ambience tailored to their needs.
Well-conceived and sophisticated ergonomics within the interior serve to ensure a complete symbiosis of man and machine, the driver and passenger coming together to form one complete whole.
The colour scheme surrounding the front passenger and the passengers at the rear likewise enhances their feeling of travelling in a genuine sports car: Through the use of black leather on the upper levels both the door panels and the rear side panels appear to be lower and even more dynamic in their dimensions, the dark areas seemingly “flowing” around the driver and passengers.
All four seats in the new BMW M3 offer both supreme comfort on long distances and excellent side support in fast bends. As an option, both the driver and the front passenger are able to choose special seats with adjustable backrest width. The rear seat bench comes complete with through-loading available as an option with a ski-bag retrofittable if desired. And last but not least, the partition between the two rear seats designed as an extension of the centre console houses an additional storage box for extra convenience.
BMW Individual high-end audio system for perfect music enjoyment.
The new BMW M3 comes as standard with a high-class audio system. Various navigation systems, the BMW Online mobile internet portal, BMW Assist telematics service, and BMW TeleServices serving to transmit service-relevant data to the driver’s BMW Service Partner are all available as optional extras.
