nice

Hey, they found a way to make the front of the 3 series palatteable! This is a very nice looking machine. Honestly, I would probably purchase this over a 911.

It’s better than the regular coupe. Bottom line, I’d buy it for what it can do rather than how it looks. I can’t decide if this car is too Banglized or not enough.
I like the front fenders (M only) but the sides and the rear look too bland. Almost like something you see everyday. I didn’t get that impression with the previous version -and it was a very conservative design.

OMG, seriously. This car has to be the most photographed spy car ever!!! Obviously BMW is doing it on purpose to keep interest up. If I had a nickel for every time a spyshot of this car is taken, I could buy one when it comes out.
Most overhyped & talked about concepts/prototypes ever:

1. 2008 Chevrolet Camaro
2. 2008 BMW E92 M3
3. 2008 Dodge Challenger
4. Nissan Skyline
5. 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
6. 2006 Corvette Z06
7. 200? Audi R8
8. Mercedes Mclaren SLR
9. Pontiac Solstice
10. Mercedes S550

sweet, i hope the v8 doesnt make it nose heavy. but being a bmw thatll be in order.

Yes, it’s been Banglized. The lower radiator opening makes it look like some kind of guppy fish.

400bhp+ v8 M3
400bhp+ v8 IS-F

I HOPE BMW MAKE this sweet ride otherwise Lexus will take sales away from them.

What I don’t understand is why are all the manufactures going with bigger displacement V8s? You don’t need it.
Want proof? Ask the engineers over at Porsche. They have naturally aspirated 6cyls making over 415hp(GT3). Turbocharged 6s with just under 500hp that can reach speeds just shy of 200mph. Meanwhile, everyone else is slapping V8s, V10s, & V12s on to their cars, only to end up with similar results or worse in performance. Not to mention increasing the weight, making it less agile in handling.
Sometimes “bigger isn’t better”.

I agree
B7 RS4 V8= 4.2 420bhp (us spec) (outside 440bhp)
Ferrari 355 V8 = 3.5 375bhp

Andre – Could have something to do with the layout of the vehicle. A flat six is pretty wide. It fits pretty nicely behind the rear wheels of a 911, but then again, Porsche is the only car manufacturer that uses this layout. Might be difficult to squeeze one of those up front between the wheel arches. Also, it’s probably cheaper to manufacter a V8, than a 6 with a turbo or supercharger and all of the plumbing and programming that goes with it. If they can design out weight bias, go with the 8.

Actually GM has a V6 variant of the Opel Omega/Cadillac Catera producing 350-378bhp. 3.2/3.5 litre trim.

Oh and I dont think the E46 M3’s styling can be topped in the next 2 platforms. The newer M’s are aberrantly disgusting from BMW’s past designs.

I really don’t understand these power battles which are going on with manufacturers. u don’t need 400 bhp m3 to have fun why cant they make cars with more torque and light weight, lets face it all the racing these cars are gonna do is at the traffic lights. I recently drove my friends C55 amg and the traction control was interfere almost all the time and it killed all the fun driving that car.

^ can’t you shut the traction control off with a button?

I see what your saying though. That’s why I baught myself an Evo. Just as fun to drive as sports cars double the price.

There’s nothing wrong with extra cylinders and larger displacement if you keep the weight down. That’s one of the major advantages of pushrod V-8’s. They are extremely lightweight with aluminum block and heads, and very compact in external dimensions.
The I-6 in the E46 M3 was over-taxed at 333hp. Too small of a displacement with too long of a stroke, with too high of a redline with a lack of forged internals = self grenading engines. Besides, it never sounded as good as a healthy V-8. The new V-8 in this M3 sounds a thousand times better than the old I6, pumps out much more power, probably weighs only slightly more, and will most likely be much more durable. I would bet this new M3 will be better in everyway than the car it is replacing, even with a bit more weight up front.

Why is it that I’m already completely bored of this new M3 and it’s not even out yet? Looks athletic but it’s still ugly, and pretty heavy, and 400hp is alot but not that amazing considering the competition in the 50-90k price range…Corvette Z06, Lexus LF-A, NSX, GT-R etc. Not to mention the new EVO X.

Sure it will drive and perform like a nimbler M5 but I don’t think it’ll be that magical leap ahead of everything else like the previous M3 was when it was new.

20 series tires?

Looks like a black rubber band around the wheels.

Super cool look in CCS/Art Centre style renderings…

Not for pot-holed Interstates!

I agree with Z06ified the inline engine, the I-6 was a great engine but it always felt like it was approaching its limits. With a Small-block V-8 you will not gain much weight cause inline’s are heavy and the engine will be much more reliable and much more tunable. Andre Neves with a Benz you can turn off the traction control, but i many Benz’s like the SL 55 i test drove if you turn the traction control you have to turn the LSD and other things off as well cuz they share one button. It’s like every thing off or everything on. Which is kind of gay cuz it takes the fun away from the driver, or it takes the handling ability away from the car.

Pushrods are archaic. The ONLY reason the US hasn’t seen better V8 development? Nascar, theres no push for technical V8’s like the germans(DTM,V8star), and now the Japanese(F1, LMP1) are building. Also has everyone forgotten the gentlemans agreement for Japan? All Japanese sportscar are limited to 280bhp. So knowing any of the HP specs are purely false.

I always liked the coupe. I like how they didnt go too crazy with the body kit unlike the IS400. Good job BMW.

Firstly, the new V8 is going to be lighter than the outgoing inline 6, just as BMW replaced the M5’s 5 Liter V8 with a 5 Liter V10; the V10 is lighter.
Secondly, BMW has a philosophy of high revving race inspired engines, which means you put out a lot of HP but you get less torque if you want to maintain 100 hp/liter.
Third, BMW M Division has said many times they will not use forced induction on their cars, so count turbos and superchargers out.

To deutschetouring1337,
The Japanese Gentlemen’s agreement to keep HP limited to 280bhp ended over a year ago. There are Japanese cars now with over 300 hp, and soon 400-500 hp Japanese cars are coming.

Yes the 2009 gt-r has A V6 3.7L TT which pumps out 510bhp,so smaller displacement engines can be powerful.

Americans have destroyed the image of the V8 e.g V8 engine a huge displacement bingo you have power. sadly this is the 21st century and a 5.0L from BMW outputs 500bhp compared to the 7.0L in the corvette z06 and the Americans are wondering why the imports are eating them alive…

Remember the chevy blazer with a 4.3L push rod V8 that pumps out a HUGE 189bhp….

oddglat, the chevy blazer (~91-2005) had a 4.3L V6 not a V8. It was short on hp, but god it had torque.

I think going V8 is great. I actually HATED the M3’s high strung I6. It sounded like a UPS truck and felt like it was going to hand grenade when you revved it up. I heard BMW was quietly replacing a lot of blown engines. Personally, I prefer a nice, unstressed torqey engine to these 8000+ rpm types. One reason I love turbo’s is the seemingly effortless power and gobs of midrange torque. When I was running my 944 Turbo, it was making 300lbft at only 3000rpm. I could blow people off and not go much above 5k.
911turbo shopping right now. I’ll let you guys know when I consumate!

Andre Neves
bigger engines have more torque.
Also for purposes of paper comparison, it would distract buyers away if one had a V6 vs V8.
And the reason Porsche can get away with putting a 6 there is because
1. its a tiny car
2. its mid(cayman) and Read(911) engined. it gets more power to teh wheels

*sigh* Imma have to save a lot of money for this… or just “settle” for the 335. My 323 is so quaint now!

335i for me, i wish i could have this one, but w/ a reflash, exhaust, the 335i makes very close to 400 hp….

Looking great…keep it up, BMW.

somehow, its ugly. the front is abit like that lexuss on the other page

Do not get the 335i confused with the Supra Inline-6 I think alot of people are doing that. COMPLETELY different engine. As for a reliable Turbo I-6 from BMW, I”d hold off for the next 2-3 yrs until BMW gets more data acuired for their turbo engines.

Just what everbody wants in a high performce coupe…a sunroof !?! I’ll never understand why BMW forces North American customers to by sunroofs in their cars.

yay, so BMW built a car that is as good as a CTS. Too bad its ugly. Too bad it breaks down all the time. Just the other day I saw 3 new 3 series sedans on the side of the highway, one was on fire even :O

I can’t believe anyone buys these things.

UM Foster, as a current Audiphile and Bimmernut even I know the E46 S54B32 engine has a limited bore spacing and you can only stroke this engine so much. Why do you think tuners are using forced induction? That engine is not capable of 600bhp on its stock internals

norby413,

Let me know if your interested in a 911 Turbo, I work at Ray Catena Porsche/ Aston Martin/ Jaguar in NJ.
aneves@raycatena.com

yay, so BMW built a car that is as good as a CTS. Too bad its ugly. Too bad it breaks down all the time.

Thing is, it’s still not as good as a CTS. BMW wants to be like Cadillac sure, but they don’t have a clue how to design and build a real car like a Caddy. Where this thing is ugly as sin, and as reliable as a Russian made Lada the Arts and Science theme glistens with quality and craftsmanship like a fine wine only better.

And you can’t buy anything more reliable than a GM vehicle. Nice try BMW, but you swung on and missed by a mile.

Oh, and I hope the hazard lights work cause you’re gonna need them.

If Car and Driver can get a 335i from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, then this thing must do it in less than 4.5, and get to 100 a second faster. I don’t think Lexus has any idea what it’s getting into with the “F.”

I drove the new Audi RS4-it sucks! (No serious people are buying fast Audi’s anymore-I made that mistake in 04′, never again. If BMW is serious about maintaining their competitiveness they should do away with the V8 plans, I would rather have a highly tuned 6 cyl like in the Porsche GT3, also they should bring back the split wing mirrors that they used to have on the old M3’s, Ferrari did it on the new F430-also the Quad exhaust is in a very lame & boaring-same as usual location! It looks like it’s on the side like the regular “3″ series coupe! I don’t want to pay an extra $20 grand for a vehicle my date may confuse for a regular 3 series! they should follow the porsche GT3’s exhaust style, keeping it in the center of the rear! someone at BMW needs to listen to me! For real. I already owned the new for 07′ Porsche GT3- It was awsome except for the ground clearence, I sold it after 2 weeks of fun. They could learn a lot from me. I want to get the New M3-but not if they dont make some drastic changes!

This car will cost $55-$60k…get a Porsche Boxster S that will almost match the acceraltion of the M3 and will by far outhandle the M3. For those who have never driven or owned a Porsche, MB’s AMG, BMW’s M, or Audi’s S, don’t come close to the driving experience of a true sportscar.