[Source: BMW AG press release, edited by Autodrum.com]

 

• Fourth-generation of the BMW M3, all-new, unique high-performance sports car from BMW M GmbH with unprecedented design and technology, developed on the basis of the BMW 3 Series Coupé.
  
• Unique character and supreme driving dynamics secure leading position in the market segment, unique combination of engine power and low weight ensured by intelligent lightweight technology, power-to-weight ratio 3.8 kg/hp.
  
• First-ever BMW M3 with an eight-cylinder power unit, all-new V8 displacing 4.0 litres and developing maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp plus peak torque of 400 Nm/295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm, maximum engine speed 8,400 rpm, optimum power and torque throughout the entire engine speed range.
  
• Individual throttle butterflies, variable double-VANOS camshaft control, Brake Energy Regeneration, engine weight 15 kg/33 lb less than the six-cylinder in the former model.
  
• Acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle 12.4 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 22.8 mpg Imp).
  
• Manual six-speed gearbox with integrated, temperature-related oil cooling, mass inertia-optimised double-plate clutch.
  
• MDrive for setting and retrieving the driver's specific configuration of the engine control map, suspension and DSC set-up, as well as the Servotronic control map as an additional option.
  
• All-new suspension with special, weight-optimised components as well as axle kinematics characteristic of BMW M for a highly dynamic driving experience, forged aluminium track control arms, compound high-performance brake system, optional Electronic Damper Control (EDC) with three freely available control maps.
  
• First production vehicle in its segment with carbon-fibre-reinforced roof, carbon fibre serving to reduce the weight of the vehicle and enhance agility by lowering the centre of gravity, carbon-fibre roof in visible technology symbolising exclusivity and a direct link to motorsport.
  
• Authentic BMW M design underlining the athletic look of the car, aluminium engine compartment lid with a striking powerdome as a clear signal of supreme power and performance, characteristic front end with large air intake scoops, muscular, powerfully flared wheel arches.
  
• Air intake gills in the front side panels, M-specific side-sills accentuating the concept of rear-wheel drive, discreet spoiler lip reducing lift forces at the rear, roof in clearly visible carbon-fibre look, dual tailpipes typical of BMW M.
  
• High-quality, sophisticated and perfectly appointed interior with a wide range of customisation, innovative colour and materials concept, four seats, BMW Individual high-end audio system tailored to the car as an option, model-specific paintwork and equipment variants highlighting the exclusivity of the new BMW M3.
  

The new, 309 kW/420 hp V8 power unit offers enormous muscle and performance at all times. And the aesthetic design of the new car typical once again of BMW M spells out supremacy of the highest standard.

The new BMW M3 sets the foundation for continuing an exceptional career in motorsport. So every enthusiast sharing the passion for supreme performance may be sure that this model is able to master even the greatest challenge on and off the race track. And last but certainly not least, the new BMW M3 offers the supreme standard of reliability and everyday driving qualities so typical of all high-performance cars from BMW M GmbH.

The all-new 'heart' of the latest BMW M3 is the eight-cylinder power unit which, through its high-speed engine concept alone, comes with all the DNA of the current Formula 1 engine raced by the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Applying this high-speed concept characteristic of all BMW M power units, the new V8 develops maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp from engine capacity of precisely 3,999 cc. Further equally impressive factors are the engine's peak torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft as well as maximum engine speed of 8, 400 rpm.

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. Precisely this is why the new BMW M3 is not only outstandingly responsive in its acceleration, but also completely shattering in the way it develops its power: 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.

Brand-new in technology and design.

One of the reasons for its low weight is that the new BMW M3 is the first production car in its segment to boast a roof made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP). And in all, the new BMW M3, with the exception of just a few components, is indeed completely new in its engineering and design concept, clearly reflecting the successful tradition of BMW M GmbH.

Apart from the load-bearing structure of the car, only the two doors, the bootlid, the windows, the headlights and rear lights have been carried over from the 3 Series Coupé. All other body components, by contrast, were specially developed for the new BMW M3.

The unique character of the new BMW M3 is obvious at first sight: Over and above the engine compartment lid with its striking powerdome and the two air intake openings, the function-oriented design of the front and rear air dams, the so-called gills in the front side panels, the side-sills also in distinctive design, the roof made of clearly visible carbon fibre, as well as the exterior mirrors and light-alloy wheels in BMW M design clearly characterise the new model from the ground up. The exterior, in turn, through its athletic and aesthetic appearance, powerfully underlines the sporting qualities of the car.

The exterior paintwork likewise adds an individual touch, offering the connoisseur not only numerous additional colours, but also four special paintwork options exclusive to BMW M.

The interior: tailor-made for optimum driving pleasure.

Double circular instruments with white illumination and red needles, the M leather steering wheel and the newly designed centre console all characterise the cockpit of the new BMW M3. The door cutout trim embellished by the characteristic M logo, the support for the driver's left foot made of brushed metal, the special design and colour of the inner door panels, as well as the trim strip made of high-quality, sophisticated materials exclusive to BMW M such as leather in carbon design or aluminium, all serve to underline the supreme and truly unique position of the new BMW M3.

The first-ever eight-cylinder to power a BMW M3.

After 15 glorious years in the world of motoring, the straight-six power unit lauded time and again as the Engine-of-the-Year in the two former model generations of the BMW M3 is now giving way to a truly worthy successor: The new BMW M3 comes for the first time with an eight-cylinder power unit. And the specifications of this all-new high-performance engine clearly prove the competence and skill of the engine development specialists at BMW M GmbH gained in a long history of racing success: Displacing 3,999 cc, the new V8 develops maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp, together with peak torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm. Perhaps an even more outstanding fact is that some 85 per cent of the engine's peak torque remains available throughout the enormous speed range of 6, 500 rpm.

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.

Weighing a mere 202 kg (445 lb), the V8 power unit featured in the new BMW M3 is a genuine lightweight. Even compared with the six-cylinder power unit in the former model, engine weight is down by some 15 kg or 33 lb.

Production of components using know-how carried over from Formula 1.

The engine block featured on the new eight-cylinder comes from BMW's light-alloy foundry in Landshut near Munich, which also builds the engine blocks for the supreme racing machines entered in Formula 1 by BMW Sauber. The crankcase is made of a special aluminium/silicon alloy eliminating the need for conventional cylinder liners, since the cylinder surface is formed instead by exposing the hard silicon crystals integrated in the alloy. The iron-coated pistons thus run directly in these uncoated, honed cylinder bores.

Valve control by double -VANOS operating at low oil pressure.

The V8 power unit of the new BMW M3 features BMW's variable double-VANOS camshaft control. Keeping valve timing extremely short and quick, this superior technology reduces charge cycle losses and, in the process, improves engine output, torque and responsiveness, with an equally positive impact on both fuel economy and emissions.

A low-pressure version of BMW's double-VANOS has been developed especially for the new eight-cylinder, ensuring extremely fast valve timing even under normal engine oil pressure.


New engine management and Brake Energy Regeneration.

A particular highlight in engine management is ion flow technology serving to detect the risk of the engine knocking as well as mis-firing and mis-combustion. Contrary to conventional technologies, this new technology monitors the engine and performs its function precisely where things count most, that is within the combustion chamber. To do this, each cylinder is checked via the spark plug for any possible knocking, and is then controlled accordingly. At the same time the system checks the ignition and recognises any mis-firing, the spark plug thus serving as an actuator for the ignition and as a sensor monitoring the combustion process. In this way the spark plug is able to distinguish between mis-combustion and mis-firing, also facilitating the process of engine diagnosis for highly efficient service and maintenance through its dual function.

Intelligent energy management featuring Brake Energy Regeneration likewise serves to further enhance the efficiency of the V8 power unit in the new BMW M3. In this case the power required for the on-board network is generated specifically during overrun and during application of the brakes, serving to charge the car's battery at exactly the right time without taking up any of the energy contained in the car's fuel. As long as the engine is 'pulling' the car, therefore, the alternator generally remains disengaged. Apart from particularly efficient generation of electric power, this also serves to provide more drive power and traction for supreme acceleration at all times.

Aluminium suspension for driving pleasure of the highest standard.

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.

Precisely this is why nearly all components on the newly developed front axle are made of aluminium, among them the spring struts even stiffer than before, the swivel bearings, the central subframe and an additional thrust plate enhancing crosswise stability of the entire front section. Indeed, the engineers at BMW GmbH have even succeeded in saving additional weight on the high-performance brake system with its compound brake discs.

The five-arm rear axle of the BMW M3 in lightweight technology is also a brand-new construction from the ground up, with the exception of one single track control arm. The particular design and construction of all aluminium arms in forging technology, in conjunction with the aluminium dampers, serves to reduce weight on this part of the car alone by 2.5 kg or 5.5 lb.

Anti-roll bars optimised for their function and minimum weight are featured both front and rear. The change in axle geometry in both cases – featuring two additional longitudinal bars, apart from other new or modified components – offers new axle kinematics tailored to the high power of the car and its particularly sporting and dynamic overall character.

The new final drive on the BMW M3 comes complete with a Variable M Differential Lock providing up to 100 per cent locking action in a completely variable process whenever required and thus ensuring optimum traction on all surfaces. Responding to differences in speed between the right and left rear wheel, the Variable M Differential Lock also offers ideal support further enhancing the positive features and characteristics of rear-wheel drive.

The result of these many improvements on the chassis and suspension also comes out clearly on the race track, the new BMW M3 significantly outperforming the lap times of all model generations on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring, where all BMW M Cars are put through their paces for their ultimate test.

MDrive button for the ambitious driving enthusiast.

Enjoying the qualities of the new BMW M3, the driver is able to configure several driving parameters indivdually according to his particular requirements, thus adjusting the car's behaviour and performance to his personal preferences. One option, for example, is to completely deactivate the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) via the car's set-up. Electronic Damper Control (EDC), in turn, which optimises both vertical vibration behaviour as well as the car's dive and roll in bends and when applying the brakes and accelerating by adjusting damper forces, comes with three different settings – Normal, Comfort, and Sports – the driver is able to pre-select at the touch of a button.

Front end designed for maximum air intake.

The front end of the car boasts three large air intake scoops beneath the radiator grille serving to feed intake and cooling air to the engine. The air intake scoops border on either side on large, vertical bars and further enhance the characteristic design language of the car. Together with the double kidney grille so typical of BMW and the low-slung headlight units with their xenon main beams, the air intakes give the new BMW M3 a highly dynamic appearance right from the start.

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.

Forged light-alloy wheels measuring 19 inches are available as an option.

Two surface elements literally twisting around one another form the significantly flared side-sills and generate a smooth but interchanging flow of light serving to give the car an even lighter and more sporting look from this angle by making the side panels look even lower. In their design, the side-sills correspond with the particular shape and appearance of the clearly contoured profile line along the body. A further point is that the distinctive contrast of light and shade generates a feeling of tension on the likewise muscular, widely flared side panels and the wheels beneath, thus giving particular emphasis to the significance of rear-wheel drive in the outstanding performance it gives the new BMW M3.

Discreet spoiler lip and rear diffuser for optimum aerodynamics.

Seen from the rear, the new BMW M3 again boasts superior and powerful proportions. At the same time the rear end design of the car takes up the characteristic look of the front end, the side-line moving down smoothly and gently and the rear wings extending into a carefully chiselled concave panel underlining the concept of rear-wheel drive and visualising the superior dynamics of the car.

A discreet spoiler lip on the lid of the luggage compartment also referred to in racing terms as the 'Gurney Flap' optimises the streamlining of the new BMW M3 and serves to further reduce lift forces at the rear.

The contours of the diffuser split up into individual sections by carefully modelled bars beneath the rear bumper again takes up the shape and design of the air intakes at the front. The air flow duct and the dual tailpipe moved far towards the centreline of the car appear to visually contract the rear end in the lower middle section, building up a feeling of superior tension in the eyes of the beholder extending all the way to the horizontally flowing lines of the bumper.

Roof in high-tech carbon-fibre: low weight, big effect.

Carbon-fibre has made its way successfully into Formula 1 as an extremely stable, but nevertheless very light material. So it is only consistent for the designers and engineers responsible for the new BMW M3 to use precisely this material originally applied in aerospace in order to further lower the centre of gravity of the new BMW M3 – carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP) is used where it counts most, on the outer skin of the car, saving about 5 kg or 11 lb in the process. With this weight being saved at the highest point on the body, the effect on driving dynamics is of course particularly positive.

Special M body colours adding a further touch of exclusivity.

The new BMW M3 is available with a choice of no less than four M metallic paintwork options giving particular emphasis to the interaction of the body surfaces, the contours and proportions of the car. Coming with a light shimmering effect, Melbourne Red, for example, combines unique brilliance and colour depth. Jerez Black, on the other hand, boasts blue pearl pigments to again provide unique highlights and unprecedented appeal. Powerful Interlagos Blue, in turn, incorporates red colour pigments to provide a highly attractive interaction of blue and violet from various angles. The fourth colour already well known from the BMW M5 and BMW M6 is Silverstone, a light silver colour with a slight touch of blue.

In addition, the new BMW M3 is available in both Alpine White and Black as well as Sparkling Graphite and Space Grey metallic, all body colours highlighting either the technical and sporting character of the car or its superior and elegant look.

Another feature typical of BMW M: rev counter with variable warning zones.

In its design, however, the new BMW M3 differs on some essential points from the 'underlying' BMW 3 Series Coupé, making the new BMW M3 a truly unmistakable car right from the beginning as soon as you get inside. Indeed, door entry trim embellished with the M logo shows the driver and passengers from the start that this is a very special car.

The dual dials (speedometer/fuel gauge and rev counter/oil temperature) typical of BMW from the start come in this case in specific BMW M configuration, again visualising the supreme power and performance of the eight-cylinder. The numbers stand out in white from the black background, the indicators in the traditional red colour of BMW M GmbH are particularly clear and easy to monitor

A special feature typical of a BMW M Car is the rev counter with its variable warning field informing the driver while the engine is warming up of the speed range currently available as a function of engine oil temperature. In this process, the borderline between the pre-warning zone shown in yellow and the actual warning area shown in red moves as a function of increasing oil temperature in the BMW M3 all the way to the maximum permissible speed of 8,400 rpm. The digital instruments presenting the time, the exterior temperature, trip mileage and telltales are housed in between the two circular instruments.

Newly designed centre console and enhanced iDrive.

Three function switches (Power, DSC and, as an option, EDC) face towards the driver, enabling him to conveniently activate or deactivate the various electronic driving programs. The intuitive user guidance provided by the iDrive control concept and enhanced in this case by MDrive reflects the control philosophy already boasted in the BMW M6.

Quality craftsmanship and sophisticated materials.

Regardless of the colour chosen, the footwells and parcel shelf as well as the upper half of the instrument panel are finished in dark Anthracite. At the same time the dark roof lining and dark trim on the A-pillars further accentuate the clear orientation to the driver so typical of BMW M. This dark colour scheme around the windscreen helps the driver furthermore to concentrate his eyes and all senses on the road, giving him a particularly good feeling of through, consistent control over his vehicle.

The sporting ambience within the interior is upgraded even further by an exclusive impression of quality provided by high-class materials and perfect finish in top-class craftsmanship. A double-clip seam accentuating the demanding character of the car and its high standard of production separates the upper section of the door and side linings from the interior elements kept in the trim colour chosen by the driver.

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.

Wide range of customisation within the interior

The new BMW M3 is available in three exclusive equipment and trim variants differing significantly from the 'regular' BMW 3 Series Coupé in their material, colour and finish. The sporting, 'basic' trim is a combination of cloth and leather called 'Speed'. Newly developed, fully tanned Novillo leather then comes as an option offering a particularly smooth and velvety surface in elegant and sporting style. Apart from classic Black, Novillo leather is also available in Palladium Silver, Bamboo Beige, and Fox Red.

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.

As yet a further option the new BMW M3 may also be fitted with a BMW Individual high-end audio system specially developed by BMW M GmbH and tailored exclusively to this special car. In this case up to 16 high-performance loudspeakers with neodym magnetic drive and extremely stiff hexacone membranes, a digital nine-channel amplifier with maximum output of 825 Watt and precisely acting frequency switches, guarantee unparalleled quality of sound.

A feature truly unique in the automobile is DIRAC live technology serving to process signals. DIRAC technology corrects the impulse response by the loudspeakers and thus ensures linear, precisely timed playback within the car. The clean impulse quality generated in this way in the playback process gives not only the drier, but rather all occupants in the new BMW M3 an extremely versatile and realistic experience of sound. Sound quality truly perfect in all situations is also ensured by speed-related volume control and speed-related equalising.