The start point for the best source of fleet information |
BMW reveals new M3
Date: 10 April 2007
The business car thousands of motorway-ploughing sales staff dream of has been revealed by BMW, the new M3.
First seen as a concept revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, the new M3 will go on sale in the UK in September.
The car uses a 420PS naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. BMW claims it is capable of 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and is electronically limited to 155mph.
Despite the increase in power over the previous M3, BMW has a achieved an 8% improvement in fuel consumption to 22.8mpg on the combined cycle.
The improvement comes from BMW's Efficient Dynamics programme first revealed by BusinessCar in October 2006.
The new M3 uses brake energy regeneration to charge the alternator and uses a carbon-fibre roof panel to lower weight. The light-weight roof panel also helps lower the car's centre of gravity to improve on-road dynamics. The V8 engine also weighs 15kg less than the straight six it replaces.
Commenting on the new M3 a BMW spokesman said: "Like the larger BMW M5 and M6 models, the new M3 Coupe also features an MDrive button that brings together numerous personalised functions of the car. The settings for the optional Electronic Damper Control (Normal, Comfort and Sport), three DSC+ traction control settings and three specific engine control maps, plus the response rate of the power steering can be controlled with one button on the steering wheel."
Prices will be revealed nearer the launch date.
