Thanks to Fast Lane Daily we have some new photos of the upcoming BMW M3 convertible and sedan as they were getting ready to hit the Nurburgring.
Both the M3 sedan and convertible are expected to be powered by the same 400+ horsepower V8 that powers the coupe.
Visit Fast Lane Daily to see more of the photos.
Full Story: Fast Lane Daily
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Comments (16)
I don't know if I would want to own a BMW convertible. I would be to worried of a typical BMW malfunction on a rainy day and the top not going up. Good looking car though.
Posted by wes | September 27, 2007 10:26 AM
Posted on September 27, 2007 10:26
I still think the 2001ish M3 is the best looking. This one just doesn't do it for me.
Posted by Gary | September 27, 2007 10:26 AM
Posted on September 27, 2007 10:26
Yeah,
The old one is better looking, I am just comparing it to competitors cars selling new today.
Posted by wes | September 27, 2007 10:40 AM
Posted on September 27, 2007 10:40
M3 sedan looks a million times better than the M3 poupe
Posted by zzz | September 27, 2007 1:19 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 13:19
and they look like the 2008 models
Posted by rene | September 27, 2007 2:58 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 14:58
Honestly I would not go back to the old styling though: if your styling stagnates eventually the sales stagnate as the cars get to many labels attached to them. Better to have a Bangle-Butt than no ass at all.
Posted by Allen | September 27, 2007 3:16 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 15:16
Agreed, the last M3 looks much better.
Also anything but a I6 in a M3 is blasphemy.
Posted by Chris | September 27, 2007 3:20 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 15:20
"Agreed, the last M3 looks much better.
Also anything but a I6 in a M3 is blasphemy."-Chris
While I'm initially inclinced to agree with both statements, have you read an article in one of the automotive mags about the 4.0L V-8? Big-bore/short stroke, stratospheric 8300rpm redline with peak power up at the top. It's also 40 or 60 something pounds lighter than the iron-block 3.2L while making 414bhp and 295tq. It's basically an M5 5.0L V-10 with a couple of cylinders lobbed off.
Posted by Noya | September 27, 2007 3:53 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 15:53
295tq lol. Thats a whole 30 ft-lbs more than the 6 cyl.
I'm not very fond of 'stratospheric 8300rpm redline's. I dislike buzzing high revving gutless tiny engines.
I'm more accustomed to square (bore=stroke) engines making 700 ft-lbs at 2000rpm and 700 HP by 6000rpm.
Besides I thought BMW was all about balance and handling, who cares how much power it has... keep it a straight 6 like god intended.
;-)
Posted by Chris | September 27, 2007 6:03 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 18:03
What is with the fascination of high revving engines in street cars anyway?
"its more fun drive" isn't a good answer, there is nothing fun to me about putting my foot to the floor and waiting for the tach needle to make it's way around...
Posted by Chris | September 27, 2007 6:06 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 18:06
Chris,
I have to agree, I cannot stand engines like that. Why should you have to wait for the power? That's why I press the gas pedal, to get power, not to wait for the engine to put some power out when it wants to.
Posted by wes | September 27, 2007 8:56 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 20:56
a few points:
1. the first M3 had an I-4 in it. so one could argue that the I-6 is wrong
2. the new V-8 is 33lbs less than the old I-6, while also shorter, this allows them to put the engine farther back in the car which puts more weight between the front and rear wheels. this helps handling
3. the M3 has 85%(250lb.-ft) of its max torque available at 2000rpm, and the torque peak is at 3900 and is nearly flat from 3500-6500rpm.
Posted by e36Jeff | September 28, 2007 2:03 AM
Posted on September 28, 2007 02:03
Exactly Jeff. The people who talk about "having to wait for the power" obviously know nothing about the car and their only knowledge of high-revving engines are little econo-cars. BMW's M division works with their F1 division, so their engines are a lot better than you'd see in most cars out there. As a journalist for Car and Driver wrote about the Z4 when it was new - "like all BMW's these days it doesn't matter what rpm you're at or what gear you're in - if you push the gas down this thing will MOVE". Just from a quick few hours testing on a pre-production version, Car and Driver had a 5-60 rolling start (so not revved up at all and "having to wait for the power" as you put it) that is faster than most cars out there today - including your oversized and underpowered engined Americrap cars. Vette's and Vipers (which even a base Vette costs close to an M3 and a Z06 is a more than an M3) are the only American cars that will outrun this thing. Maybe - MAYBE - the new pseudo-Shelby GT500 will be able to outrun it, but given the lousy acceleration numbers I've read everywhere, I doubt it (unless the driver gets blessed by God and the car all of the sudden becomes worth it's price).
One more thing, for the "you have to wait for the power" guys - you do realize that F1 cars hit max power at like 18,000 rpms, right? They sure as hell don't have to wait for the power.
Posted by Remy LeBeau | September 29, 2007 9:13 PM
Posted on September 29, 2007 21:13
and one more point FTW, 5-60(C & D numbers) for the M3 is 5.1 sec, and that was on a sub-par surface, so, yeah, the M3 engine is anything but weak.
Posted by e36Jeff | October 7, 2007 7:08 PM
Posted on October 7, 2007 19:08
and one more point FTW, 5-60(C & D numbers) for the M3 is 5.1 sec, and that was on a sub-par surface, so, yeah, the M3 engine is anything but weak.
Posted by e36Jeff | October 7, 2007 7:09 PM
Posted on October 7, 2007 19:09
exactly jeff...also this beast has 3 32 bit microprocessors that deliver over 200 mips per second, in addtion to (guess) over 30 sensors collecting data...its basically a mainframe controlling this car...think fly by wire fighter jets. pretty sweet- i wonder what the price for the convertible will be? probably $80-85k...sorry but i have rented plenty of Shelby GT-H convetibles and while they are a blast to drive they dont come close to my 03 330 cic.
Posted by kyle 330cic | January 10, 2008 2:50 AM
Posted on January 10, 2008 02:50