New M3 finally revealed!!!

[Initial D.oug]

I'm liking my e30 more and more.

Pretty bland IMHO.

http://images.leftlanenews.com/content/1-m3-concept.jpg
http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmw-m3.html

[Mike 91 318ic]

I like it :D

[Blakeoffire]

Yeah...definitely something you'd have to see in the flesh.

Some questionable 'styling for style's sake' going on here and there. The new hood bulge really grabs your attention though...its profile hinting at Imprezza/Rally themes. I'm betting it suits the M3 more when you see it on the move. Quad curled-edge pipes rule. New body should have new wheels though IMO. Those CSL wheels are awesome but I'm unsure about their placement with this new M3...appears dated. Those front upper-fender/hood angles are quite dramatic. This M3 definitely has a 'face'.

The ass-end has me baffled though. Every newer photo I've seen of the back-end shows the license-plate integrated lower down into the bumper, M6-style. With the rear-bumper in these pics...hmm, I don't know...all those creases and juts and shadowy-arcs...I suppose it 'works' in its own way...you just have to train your eye. There's so much to focus on... I'm constantly noticing new lines...

Just like the Z4 M coupe, at first I found myself distracted and frustrated by all of the creases, crests and odd lines but after awhile (a long while) my eyes finally settled down. The visual challenge of it all keeps me coming back for more...(styling for the A.D.D/iPOD generation anyone?) but I still cannot decide yet if it all makes sense in its own individualistic way or if it's just a big wad of styling confusion and madness. It appears that sometimes it just comes down to from what angle I'm looking at it. Yet, most of the time I just want to simply look at a car in one flowing, ease-of-eye glance and notice it as a whole, singular, beautiful piece of engineering...

....like ours ... :thumbs:


B.

[Nick]

...I like it. There's a small clip from a Japanese tv show I saw yesterday that had some spy-video of it testing at the 'ring. Sounds badass w/ the V8. I was generally opposed to the E9x, but after seeing some 335i coupes in person and on the road, they have grown on me. The fact that this car has enough unique bodywork and special bits that will totally distinguish it from a 'plane-jane' 335 is welcome.
I just hope BMW Motorsport will use it to lay the smackdown in GT3, or at least provide customer cars.

[Initial D.oug]

better pics here. these pics show it off more. I bet it'll be nice in the flesh, just like the coupe.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49988

[Spencer]

I like those side vents and the exhaust pipes. I'd like to see it in another color than silver. I'm not a fan of silver cars.

[VtwinVince]

Meh, flash in the pan styling, courtesy of those bozos, Mssrs. Bangle and van Hooydonk.

[motoyen]

To me it reeks of body kit. I think that is now my least favorite Banglized car. Too many angles and creases just for show. The side mirrors look like E36 M3 mirrors on steroids. I bet in person it looks long and fat. I've seen a few E90's running around town and they look too stretched out. I'd take Andrew's old car (http://www.bimmerclassics.net/forum/showthread.php?t=484) over this in a heart beat.

2008 Ad Copy
"The muscular front wheel arches of the BMW M3 Concept Car symbolise
the high level of agility and driving stability achieved by this vehicle."

1988 Ad Copy
"The front & rear wheel arches are widened so we can fit 10 inch race tires."

[evo3]

/\ I see that car everyday on SW marine. 9am and 5pm (to and from work commute I guess).

[FrustratedMunky]

It's going to be a hit with the local rich asian kids, I tells ya.

[KDS]

To me it reeks of body kit. I think that is now my least favorite Banglized car. Too many angles and creases just for show.
I'm with you and Vince. I liked BMWs a lot better when they were understated and the design was somehow related to function, sorta like--oh, I don't know--AN AUDI. This whole car is scarred-up with complete Pontiac-style randomness. I miss BMWs that look lean and fast like a sprinter, not bloated and overpowered like some steroid freak.

[redhatpat]

It's going to be a hit with the local rich asian kids, I tells ya.
You mean just like the convertible e46 M3? Convertible? What's the point? <sigh>

[FrustratedMunky]

You mean just like the convertible e46 M3? Convertible? What's the point? <sigh>

Tell me about it... I mean, hardtop convertibles are sexy and all, but I don't think I'd bother getting an M3 hardtop.

Then again, if I had the cash to get an E46 M3 without breaking a sweat, heck, I'd get whatever the **** I want.

[Initial D.oug]

I thought they said that the new models won't be coming out in a convertible but perhaps a 4 door M3. Maybe that's all moot now though.

[porschegt1]

I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.

anyone lend me the $90,000

[kowalski]

I like it, they should rebadge it as an m5 though because its big enough... the m3 should take the m5's spot and then they need to redsign the m3 again, just smaller.

[Nick]

they need to redsign the m3 again, just smaller.

*cough* 135i *cough*

[Blakeoffire]

*cough* 135i *cough*

Aside from making me partly laugh my coffee out from my mouth... You just may be onto something here.

BMW is possibly fitting the 300 bhp 3.0 L bi-turbo I6 into the 1 series... and with that, there's even the slim chance of an M-version.... which, in turn, would make it ..... the ........ *ahem* ....... :paranoid: ...... M1 .... ?


B.

[VtwinVince]

Let's face it, people, the golden age of BMW Motorsport is long gone.....

[go4carter]

Let's face it, people, the golden age of BMW Motorsport is long gone.....

Agreed. They have chased the luxury market and left the door open for others to create accesible "sport-cars".
As nice looking as the new MCoupe is it is a luxury sports car along the lines of the e24 M6, and the new M6 might as well be a Bentley. The STi is the closest thing in concept to an e30 M3, and the new M3 is like Aston Martin of old, etc, etc.

[VitaminJ]

Aside from making me partly laugh my coffee out from my mouth... You just may be onto something here.

BMW is possibly fitting the 300 bhp 3.0 L bi-turbo I6 into the 1 series... and with that, there's even the slim chance of an M-version.... which, in turn, would make it ..... the ........ *ahem* ....... :paranoid: ...... M1 .... ?


B.


hehehe how about this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltrp7pTJ4wg

[VtwinVince]

To me, the Hartge looks just like a Mazda, although the performance is mental. The driver says it doesn't understeer, is very stable, although you have to be careful in third gear when you stomp on it. No kidding. I'm sure the price of that thing is pretty high as well.