New BMW M3

A twenty-first birthday is quite a milestone and deserves due recognition, particularly if, as in the case of the BMW M3, those 21 years have been spent as undisputed sporting saloon champion.

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So what better way to celebrate than with a brand new model capable of once more seeing off some determined opposition in the shape of the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG, Audi RS4 and forthcoming Lexus IS-F. Not that any of us were hugely surprised given that prototypes have been spotted in more places than Paris Hilton.

Just a month after revealing an M3 “Concept” at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW has taken the wraps off the real deal, powered, not by a straight-six as the last two have been but a brand new 4.0-litre V8 producing 420bhp and 295lb/ft. Based closely on the M5’s 5.0-litre V10, the decision to drop the traditional six-cylinder engine was taken in the face of stiff competition from BMW’s traditional German rivals from BMW and Audi. BMW development head Gerhard Richter said: “It wasn’t so much us thinking the new car needed a larger powerplant than news that the competition was preparing cars in excess of 400 horsepower.”

Incidentally the new engine is close to twice the size of the 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine in the original E30 M3 and produces double the power. Made largely from aluminium and magnesium, the new engine is actually lighter than the 3.2-litre six it replaces, largely to maintain BMW’s much vaunted 50:50 front to rear weight distribution. Performance is reported by BMW as 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, nearly half a second quicker than the old M3 but still 0.6 seconds off the time Audi claims for the RS4 with its superior four-wheel drive traction. Top speed is limited to 155mph.

The M3 continues to drive its rear wheels only and, unlike the M5 and M6, is offered with a traditional six-speed manual. The seven-speed sequential manual gearbox in the bigger M-cars has come in for a lot of criticism and is unlikely to appear in the M3, which should instead get a dual-clutch manual gearbox similar in concept to Audi’s S-Tronic system. What the car will inherit from its big brothers is an ‘M’ button on the steering wheel to sharpen throttle and steering response. Suspension is a combination of MacPherson struts up front and multilink at the rear. Electronic dampers will also be available allowing drivers to alter the balance between handling and ride comfort.

Externally the car gains a deep front airdam with three cooling slots cut into it, a non-too-subtle power bulge on the bonnet and M5 style vents behind the flared front wheelarches. The rear of the car is distinguished by a deeper rear bumper and four chromed tailpipes. A carbon-fibre reinforced roof lowers the centre of gravity to improve the handling and the planned hardtop convertible will get a folding aluminium lid to achieve the same ends. The car will also be offered in coupé, four-door saloon and estate guises.

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