M3 out of the closet in Geneva
BMW outed its M3 Concept at Geneva overnight. Don't take too much notice of the 'concept' labelThe King is dead. Long live the King! Performance motoring's best all-rounder, the winner of countless car comparisons and the single reason why most petrolheads want to own a BMW, the M3, is back in business.
Outed overnight at the Geneva Motor Show, in the shape of the M3 Concept, the new M3 is now just months away from release. Indeed, CarPoint/Carsales sources have it confirmed that the 400hp (300kW approx) V8-powered 4.0-litre nuovo M3 will be released in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. And after that it'll hit key M markets like Australia quick smart.
The Geneva car is officially dubbed a concept but don't take too much notice of the label. The pumped and prodded E92 new generation coupe based vehicle here is very, very close to final production trim. Save for the traditional BMW 'Chrome Shadow' concept car paintjob!
More than any M3 before it, the latest model is bespoke, however. In terms of panels and exterior elements only the door skins, boot lid and head and tail lights are carried over from the donor coupe.
Underneath the bulging bonnet, BMW says the car "features a high-revving V8 engine." Think 8/10ths of the M5's 5.0-litre V10 coupled to a choice of SMG or manual gearboxes and you've got it nailed.
"All other components were specially engineered for the BMW M3 Concept Car," says BMW.
Weight saving and re-distribution measures include a vented alloy-bonnet and a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof panel -- as introduced on the limited edition E46 generation M3 CSL and more recently featured on the M6.
The 'raw' finish of the roof visually lowers the car and lends more of a M6-look to the 3.
At the front there's enlarged under-bumper intakes to feed the V8, brakes, et al and the rear gets a vestigial bootlid spoiler and a serious (and functional) under-bumper diffuser. Quad pipes are featured -- of course!
The now signature front guard vents are featured and the M3 Concept pioneers a new aero-mirror design.
The wheels are 19s (expect 20s to be optional once appropriate rubber is homologated) and the real measure of a performance car, the brakes, are massive.
"The BMW M3 represents the cutting edge of BMW driving superiority, and the Concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show is more than a hint of what we can expect to be driving very soon," said new BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Guenther Seemann overnight.
Australian's purchased more than 1500 E46 M3s making this country one of the strongest per capita M Car market in the world.
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