- BMW unveils a concept M3 sedan said to be inspired by last year's high-octane M3 GTS Coupe. Production plans are still percolating — but the U.S. won't be part of them.
- The M3 GTS sedan concept is more powerful, lighter and more agile than the standard M3.
- More details will emerge later this year at the M Festival at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
MUNICH, Germany — BMW has created a concept M3 sedan said to be inspired by last year's high-octane M3 GTS Coupe, but production plans are still percolating. Only one thing is certain: The car "will not be homologated for the U.S.," a BMW North America spokesman tells Inside Line.
Revealed last week at an exclusive M Division event here, the M3 GTS sedan concept was described by Britain's Car magazine as "halfway between the M3 and M3 GTS," with a more powerful version of the M3's 414-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 rather than the GTS Coupe's 444-hp 4.4-liter unit.
While borrowing the darkened 19-inch alloy rims and bigger brakes from the GTS Coupe, the sedan features a more modest deck-lid spoiler and front splitter than its two-door counterpart. The sedan is also said to get firmer suspension and lighter construction than the standard M3.
Production plans remain unclear, but BMW promises more details later this year at the M Festival at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
Inside Line says: Don't expect the M3 GTS Sedan to be quite the rip-snorting, club-racing beast personified by the M3 GTS Coupe. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
pathos says:
10:51 PM, 04/07/2011
Sedan > Coupe
gmhl10 says:
09:29 AM, 04/06/2011
Coupe > Sedan
dorikin_86 says:
08:21 AM, 04/06/2011
Ultimate: The E46 was no light-weight sports car - The E36 was already borderline on being a bit porky...
I don't know what happened with BMW - their special editions usually consist of different color seats and a paint job...but you can't always blame the manufacturer. There must be demand out there driving BMW to do this...SAD
ed341 says:
04:01 AM, 04/06/2011
It's ashame new cars seem to lack the mystique they used to have. I remember pouring over articles of lightweight E36s, the fabulous CSL, non-US market Honda Type Rs and the like. This car doesn't really excite me even as much as seeing an old E46 ZHP on the highway.
dmpete says:
02:50 AM, 04/06/2011
I will agree w/ ultimate, the E46 was a great car( having owned one). But that 4.0 liter V8 is very sweet.Yet again another over priced car with very little actual interest. They wll produce like 14 of them and no one will be able to afford it, or get it. I think alot of car companies these day build one off cars for the elite in their management ranks, bc of their insane prices no one in the public actually sees the cars on the road, ( which is what they are made for right?)
kdizzle says:
02:41 AM, 04/06/2011
Better than the truck.
ultimatemxcn says:
12:09 AM, 04/06/2011
It is already ridiculous the amount they charge for the current M3. The last great M3 was the previous gen with its 6 cyl and light weight.