The New BMW M3

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THE NEW BMW M3
- Turning Powerful Passion into Supreme Performance

With its superior power, performance and dynamism, the new fourth-generation BMW M3 ensures truly unique sheer driving pleasure of the highest calibre.

The new V8 power unit, which offers enormous muscle and performance, comes with all the DNA of the current Formula 1 engine raced by the BMW Sauber F1 Team and the aesthetic design of the new car, typical of BMW M, is the epitome of motoring supremacy.

The new M3 is the first to have an eight-cylinder power unit, 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 is 8,400 rpm with some 85 per cent of the engine’s peak torque available throughout the enormous speed range of 6, 500 rpm.

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. Thus, the iron-coated pistons run directly in these uncoated, honed cylinder bores. Weighing a mere 202 kg (445 lb), the V8 power unit featured in the new BMW M3 is a genuine lightweight. The overall unique lightweight design gives the new M3 a power-to-weight ratio of 3.8 kg/hp.

Acceleration to 100 km/h is a blistering 4.8 seconds while the top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h.

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. A separate throttle butterfly for each cylinder reflects the racing engine technology in the new M3 when it comes to providing immediate engine response.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a six-speed manual gearbox interacting with brand-new final drive. The 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 ensuring optimum traction on all surfaces.

The electronic management of the V8 power unit coordinating all engine functions with optimum efficiency and precision, is yet another new development. Ion flow technology detects the risk of the engine knocking or mis-firing and mis-combustion in each cylinder via the spark plug and controls the problem accordingly. At the same time, the system checks the ignition and recognises any mis-firing, the spark plug serving as an actuator for the ignition and as a sensor monitoring the combustion process.

Intelligent energy management featuring Brake Energy Regeneration 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.

Average fuel consumption of the new BMW M3 in the EU test cycle is 12.4 litres/100 kilometres which makes it one of the most fuel-efficient performance cars available.

An all-new suspension system with special, weight-optimised components, as well as axle kinematics, also provides a highly dynamic driving experience.

For the enthusiast, MDrive sets and retrieves the driver’s specific configuration
of the engine control map, suspension and Dynamic Stability Control set-up, as well as the Servotronic control map as an additional option.

The new BMW M3 is the first production vehicle in its segment with a carbon-fibre-reinforced roof to reduce the weight of the vehicle and enhance agility by lowering the centre of gravity - a direct link to BMW motorsport.

While based on the BMW 3 Series Coupé, 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 paintwork likewise adds an individual touch, offering the connoisseur not only numerous additional colours, but also four special paintwork options exclusive to BMW M.

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 with a wide range of options for customisation available in the interior trim.

The new BMW M3 will be available in New Zealand in early October and pricing will be released closer to this time.

ENDS

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