Ma Ma Mia!!! Das Munich Monster Has Arrived!

Every time BMW is about to announce a new M model, you know it’s something that the whole world will be watching closely, and probably pay even more attention than they would to Baywatch (or whatever its modern day equivalent is). It’s like hearing about news of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s new action thriller – you might not know what it’s going to be like but you definitely want to find out more. Unless, of course, you’re the sort who spends his time watching the Hallmark channel; then you wouldn’t know what an M is about, and what 420 horsepower can do to you.

OneShift Editorial Team

05 Apr 2007

BMW has finally released official photos of its new M3, after teasing the world for months. And mein Gott, it looks fabulously stunning! Reaching out to gulp in air is the famous M-style front lip, which, though quite a bit more angular than on the E46, manages to retain well enough the familiar face of an M. Its eyes, pardon me, headlamps, slightly deep-set, glare with enough ominousness to make you want to get out of its way. Its front wheels are guarded by the masculine wraps of its fenders and are closely followed by the chrome side-grills, which look from the side as if it were a speeding bullet, sending shock waves across the length of the car. You still get the power-dome, as on the E46, bulging just adequately to make you curious about it. And, obviously, who wouldn’t be?

The stems of the side-mirrors are split-up, instead of the usual single branch, probably providing it with less drag. Run along to the back and you find that BMW hasn’t neglected the details, and have managed to maintain them without looking dated. The boot gets lined with the subtle lip-spoiler and an accentuated rear low bumper. For sure, they didn’t leave out the party piece(s) – four chromed tail-pipes. Topping it all up is a carbon-fibre-reinforced roof which will lower the weight as well as its centre of gravity.

Fans can also expect more bass from this Monster, thanks to its 4.0 litre V8 engine, instead of the harsh-metallic grind from its previous 3.2 litre straight-six. The new block, made from aluminium, has identical bore and stroke dimensions as the E60 M5’s V10, and also the 90-degree V-angle. Just as impressive as its two-up brother, it will have four valves per cylinder and will utilize magnesium cam covers and an aluminium-silicon alloy crankcase. This gives the engine a weight of almost 202 kg – 13.6 kg lighter than the older inline-six. Other goodies include double VANOS variable valve timing and advanced engine management software. Each cylinder will also be getting their own throttle butterfly. The piston squeezes up with a ratio of 12.0:1, just like the V10 also, and the result is a whopping 420 hp @ 8,300 rpm and 400 Nm @ 3,900 rpm.

Something that definitely will hit off well with purists is the use of a six-speed manual gearbox. Interestingly though, there has been no mention so far of an SMG option, thus fuelling excited rumours about BMW coming up with a double-clutch gearbox like Volkswagen’s DSG. Also to be seen on this mean machine will be a hydraulic differential at the rear to help hold long-awaited fantasies of long and dramatic, yet gracious power slides.

The first M3 is expected to be sold only in mid-2008. And unfortunately, that’s not even in Singapore. BMW claims a 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds, though we reckon that they’re just being conservative. But then again conservative people wouldn’t create such a car, would they?

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Credits: Kr0n