Less than a month after the 2008 BMW M3 Coupe made its public debut at the Frankfurt auto show, BMW has set about extending the family with the official introduction of the new 2008 BMW M3 Sedan. This is only the second time in the M3's illustrious 21-year history that it has been offered with four doors.
Planned to go on sale in North America in the spring of 2008, BMW's new performance sedan uses the same mechanical layout as the coupe. The centerpiece of this car remains the high-strung, 414-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 based on the engine layout of the 5.0-liter V10 in the M5. But the sedan adds everyday practicality in the form of rear doors, enough rear-seat headroom for adults and a larger trunk.
A Return Appearance
The last time BMW offered an M3 sedan came with the second-generation M3 back in 1994. It proved especially popular among U.S. car buyers, but the third-generation M3 did not morph into a sedan, owing to what engineers at BMW M division describe as fundamental structural differences in the front-end architecture between the E46 sedan and coupe.
By reviving the sedan, BMW hopes to create a high-performance four-door model to match up against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG along with upcoming competitors like the Lexus IS-F and the third-generation Audi RS4.
Set to follow the sedan is a cabriolet version of the M3; although this car isn't likely to appear until the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, with U.S. sales set to begin late in 2008.
The Look of Speed
What really sets the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan apart from the lesser 3 Series sedan is unique front-end styling that adopts the curvy headlamps and grille from the 3 Series coupe. It is a look that will remain unique to the M3 sedan, BMW says, providing it with a sleeker, sportier identity.
The aggressively styled front fascia is complemented by pronounced wheel arches, a power dome for the hood, heavily stylized ducts inset into the frontquarter panels, chunkier rocker sills underneath the doors, a subtle trunk spoiler, a deeper rear bumper with an aero diffuser, and the quad tailpipe treatment that has become the signature of M division cars.
Four special M division colors have been reserved for the M3 sedan: Interlagos Blue, Jerez Black, Melbourne Red and Silverstone.
Getting Serious About Four-Doors
Power comes from BMW M division's 4.0-liter V8 producing 414 hp at a dizzying 8,300 rpm along with 295 pound-feet of torque from 3,900 rpm. This is a power increase of 15 percent from the previous-generation M3's inline-6 engine, and BMW promises an 8 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
BMW's not giving too much away about specific equipment for the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan, but sources tell us that it will introduce BMW's long-awaited dual-clutch automated sequential manual gearbox from the onset of sales in North America. The coupe's six-speed manual transmission will also be available.
Underpinning the M3 sedan is the same rear-wheel-drive platform used in the M3 coupe. It uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multilink rear suspension that BMW hints has been set up to provide the four-door with a more compliant ride than the existing two-door.
As Quick as the Coupe
With a claimed curb weight of 3,538 pounds, the M3 sedan's performance mirrors that of the M3 coupe, with BMW claiming acceleration to 100 kph (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds. This makes the four-door just 0.1 second slower to the standard benchmark than its two-door sibling. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
BMW has made a lot of fuss about building an M3 chassis that's even faster than the engine, and no corners have been cut for the sedan. As a result, the M3 sedan will offer all the electronic wizardry at BMW's command, notably MDrive, which creates customized combinations of stability control, suspension setting, steering assist and throttle response.
With the prospect of the 2008 BMW M3 in coupe, sedan and convertible models, the M3 has gone big in marketing terms as well as horsepower.
Planned to go on sale in North America in the spring of 2008, BMW's new performance sedan uses the same mechanical layout as the coupe. The centerpiece of this car remains the high-strung, 414-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 based on the engine layout of the 5.0-liter V10 in the M5. But the sedan adds everyday practicality in the form of rear doors, enough rear-seat headroom for adults and a larger trunk.
A Return Appearance
The last time BMW offered an M3 sedan came with the second-generation M3 back in 1994. It proved especially popular among U.S. car buyers, but the third-generation M3 did not morph into a sedan, owing to what engineers at BMW M division describe as fundamental structural differences in the front-end architecture between the E46 sedan and coupe.
By reviving the sedan, BMW hopes to create a high-performance four-door model to match up against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG along with upcoming competitors like the Lexus IS-F and the third-generation Audi RS4.
Set to follow the sedan is a cabriolet version of the M3; although this car isn't likely to appear until the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, with U.S. sales set to begin late in 2008.
The Look of Speed
What really sets the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan apart from the lesser 3 Series sedan is unique front-end styling that adopts the curvy headlamps and grille from the 3 Series coupe. It is a look that will remain unique to the M3 sedan, BMW says, providing it with a sleeker, sportier identity.
The aggressively styled front fascia is complemented by pronounced wheel arches, a power dome for the hood, heavily stylized ducts inset into the frontquarter panels, chunkier rocker sills underneath the doors, a subtle trunk spoiler, a deeper rear bumper with an aero diffuser, and the quad tailpipe treatment that has become the signature of M division cars.
Four special M division colors have been reserved for the M3 sedan: Interlagos Blue, Jerez Black, Melbourne Red and Silverstone.
Getting Serious About Four-Doors
Power comes from BMW M division's 4.0-liter V8 producing 414 hp at a dizzying 8,300 rpm along with 295 pound-feet of torque from 3,900 rpm. This is a power increase of 15 percent from the previous-generation M3's inline-6 engine, and BMW promises an 8 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
BMW's not giving too much away about specific equipment for the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan, but sources tell us that it will introduce BMW's long-awaited dual-clutch automated sequential manual gearbox from the onset of sales in North America. The coupe's six-speed manual transmission will also be available.
Underpinning the M3 sedan is the same rear-wheel-drive platform used in the M3 coupe. It uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multilink rear suspension that BMW hints has been set up to provide the four-door with a more compliant ride than the existing two-door.
As Quick as the Coupe
With a claimed curb weight of 3,538 pounds, the M3 sedan's performance mirrors that of the M3 coupe, with BMW claiming acceleration to 100 kph (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds. This makes the four-door just 0.1 second slower to the standard benchmark than its two-door sibling. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
BMW has made a lot of fuss about building an M3 chassis that's even faster than the engine, and no corners have been cut for the sedan. As a result, the M3 sedan will offer all the electronic wizardry at BMW's command, notably MDrive, which creates customized combinations of stability control, suspension setting, steering assist and throttle response.
With the prospect of the 2008 BMW M3 in coupe, sedan and convertible models, the M3 has gone big in marketing terms as well as horsepower.
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