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- Sports car for everyday use?
- BMW M3 Competition
- BMW M3 Competition
- More than just performance
- Not just unreasonable
BMW M3 Competition
Sports car for everyday use?
The M3 is an important car for BMW: It should be the benchmark for the much-cited driving pleasure – and still remain a sedan suitable for everyday use. He has to prove in the test whether this works.
BMW M3 Competition
The M3 is the founder of the sporty M series from BMW; It hit the streets in 1986 as the basic model for the DTM racing car of the time.
The sports version, which was initially only available as a two-door model, impressed with its very direct and sporty handling from the start; So much so that it didn’t just stay with the M3, the M stands for “Motorsport”, but an entire M family grew out of it. This was followed by the M5 based on the larger 5 series and later even SUVs; every BMW is now available with a sports package. A popular accessory across all model series that gives every BMW driver the feeling of moving at least a small piece of the legend established by the first M3.
For this to work, BMW wants and needs to continue the history that motorsport promises for the road in a credible way – and is now launching the M3 based on the current 3 Series. The most striking innovation is certainly the design of the front end: the huge radiator grille familiar from the 4-series coupe is also used here in the sedan. This is where opinions differ. Whether you like the martial appearance or not cannot be answered objectively, it’s a question of taste.
There is no question about the quality of the built-in technology – and that should be the main thing in this car anyway. Under the hood is the latest generation of the double-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine with a displacement of three liters, either with 480 hp and 550 Nm or as the M3 “Competition” with 510 hp and 650 Nm of torque. While the basic variant is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission, the power in the “Competition” tested comes exclusively via an 8-speed automatic transmission to the rear axle. A four-wheel drive version will follow in the summer.
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BMW M3 Competition
More than just performance
In order to make an “M” out of a normal 3 Series, BMW does far more effort than just installing a powerful drive. Track and wheels have been significantly widened, which can be seen at first glance. The roof is made of carbon as standard, which reduces weight and center of gravity. In addition, the body was stiffened in important places, the braking system was reinforced, the chassis was radically revised and the rear axle was equipped with an electronically controlled differential. All of this has one aim: while the M3 should still offer the full everyday practicality of a five-seater mid-size sedan, it should drive and feel like the tamed version of a racing touring car. In order to explore the full potential, you would actually have to visit a closed track. Nevertheless, the concept is also appealing on the road: the sports BMW seems to be looking forward to every curve, turns in very willingly and knows neither body roll nor understeer; instead, you can always clearly feel that the power goes exclusively to the rear axle. The steering is completely free of disruptive drive influences and the rear turns precisely, safely tamed by finely tuned electronics.
The fact that, compared to the tamer versions of the 3-series sedan, you have to live with higher road noise and, especially at low speeds, a much tighter suspension is more fitting than annoying.
Not just unreasonable
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