The BMW M3 is a legend amongst fans of luxurysports cars. Though it follows the classic front-engine/rear-drive formula, there's a magic to the M3 that's all its own.
Originating with the E30 edition of the BMW 3-Series jin 1986, the original M3 was a small, relatively light two-door coupe and convertible. Power came from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, and though power hovered around 200 hp--with most of that delivered near peak RPMs--the car quickly won fans and followers. The E30 M3 was only offered with a manual transmission. It saw wide use in racing, which continues to this day.
The second generation of the M3 came with the next generation of the 3-Series it's based on: the E36. Arriving in 1992, the new model upgraded the small four-cylinder to a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder (upgraded to 3.2-liters in 1996), rated at 240 horsepower. A sedan version of the M3 was introduced for the E36 generation. Both five-speed manual and automatic transmissions were available. This model ran through 1999.
In late 2000, the E46 M3 came on the scene, with a much more potent 3.2-liter S54 inline six-cylinder engine rated at 333 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission and a new SMG automatic transmission with an electro-hydraulically-operated clutch pedal, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Next came the E90-series (E90, E92, and E93) M3, first sold in 2007. A new V-8 engine, displacing 4.0 liters and generating 414 horsepower, raised the M3 to new levels, but at the same time, the E90 M3 gained considerable weight, pushing it more into the realm of grand tourer than sports car. A wave of technology also brought the M3 more fully into the modern realm, with advanced traction and stability control programs to enhance performance, a new dual-clutch transmission, and other advances. A number of special editions have been offered, primarily as appearance packages. The overall level of the M3's luxury and equipment also rose with this generation, wrapping in more advanced navigation, entertainment, and creature comforts.
With a new generation of the 3-Series (F30) already on the roads, a new M3 is expected to arrive soon as well. Rumors have placed a turbocharged six-cylinder engine under the hood, which would mark the first time forced induction has been used in a production M3. It's not expected to arrive until the end of 2012 at the earliest, likely as a 2013 model.
The E90-series M3s (coupe and convertible) remain on sale for now, however, starting from $60,100 for the coupe and $68,750 for the convertible. Its nearest competition is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Lexus IS F, and Audi S4.
Source : www.thecarconnection.com
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