m3

BMW M3 Pickup

The BMW M3 has been available in all manner of body-styles: coupe, convertible, sedan...but not a pickup. That is, until now.

BMW has created this one-of-a-kind M3 pickup as something of a ruse. Yet it actually exists. The truck packs the same 4.0-liter, 420-horsepower V8 as the production M3, only it's capable of hauling 110 pounds of whatever you need. It also boasts a removable roof for open-air driving, but you can't buy it. BMW built one as a gag, and will use it at the M division's workshop to help move parts around.

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Tags: bmw, bmw m3, bmw m3 pickup, m3, m3 pickup, pickup

BMW M3 Frozen Gray Coupe

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW has announced a special edition of its all-conquering M3 coupe, specifically for the American market. Called the Frozen Gray edition, the special M3 features a unique Space Gray matte finish with special clear coat, Novillo red leather interior and comes equipped with the Competition Package as standard. The 414-horsepower, 4-liter V8 carries over from the "base" M3, coupled to either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch transmission. Only 30 examples will be on offer, each fetching a $77,600 list price.

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Tags: bmw bm3, bmw m3 frozen gray, bmw m3 frozen gray coupe, frozen gray, m3

BMW M3 GT2 Art Car by Jeff Koons

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Art, Sports

There's a great history to BMW's art cars. Over the past 35 years, sixteen such collaborations have been undertaken between the German automaker and famous artists. Among them were none other than Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. And now BMW has unveiled its latest.

The work of American artist Jeff Koons, this M3 GT2 race car was unveiled in Paris before heading to the 24 Hours of Le Mans next week where it will actually compete as one of the two cars BMW is fielding during this year's iconic race.

This isn't the first time, however, that a BMW art car has been used in an actual race: other notable examples included Alexander Calder's 1975 3.0 CSL and Jenny Holzer's 1999 V12 LMR. In fact many of the original art cars competed at Le Mans. Let's just hope that, like it predecessors, this one doesn't crash during the race.

Tags: 24 heures du mans, 24 hours of le mans, art car, art cars, bmw, bmw art car, bmw art cars, bmw m3 gt2, gt2, jeff koons, le mans, m3, me gt2

BMW M3 Sedan Reported to Face the Axe

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you've been eying that BMW M3 sedan on the dealer lot on your commute home from work, we've got some news for you. First of all, it may be sitting there for a while already. Secondly, it may be your last chance.

According to reports, BMW hasn't been able to sell the four-door M3 as fast as expected (or as the car can travel down the road, for that matter). Although North American buyers clamored for the opportunity to buy the M3 sedan in the last generation, their wallets haven't been speaking as loudly as their mouths. As a result, sales have been lagging, and BMW is reportedly not going to renew its production for the next-generation model.

That means that when the current M3 – with its high-revving V8 engine – is replaced by the new twin-turbo six, it'll only be available as a coupe or convertible. Which is a bit of a shame, but not as big a shame as its prospective buyers evidently feel.

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Tags: bmw, bmw m3, bmw m3 sedan, m3, m3 sedan

BMW to release M3 Competition Pack in Geneva

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Fans of performance-oriented versions of the BMW 3 Series have had plenty to celebrate lately. Recent additions to the top of the range have included the M3 GTS, while lower down we've been treated to a new, sub-M3 335i and an even more powerful 335is. Now reports indicate that a CSL-like Competition Pack is being planned for the M3 itself.

Said to incorporate a harder suspension dropped by 10mm and supplimented by new electronic dampers and new lightweight 19" alloys, the M3 Competition Pack ought to up the performance quotient. The 414-horsepower, 4-liter V8 engine will reportedly carry over unchanged, so don't expect any shavings off the stock M3's acceleration and top speed figures. But expect to see the M3 equipped with the Competition Pack to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show at a £3,315 (~$5,340k) premium.

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Tags: bmw, bmw 3 series, bmw m3, bmw m3 competition pack, Bmw3Series, BmwM3, BmwM3CompetitionPack, competition pack, CompetitionPack, m3, m3 competition pack, M3CompetitionPack

BMW Rolls Out Hard-Core M3 GTS

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you're one of the enthusiasts who think the BMW M3 has grown too big and bloated with the current model, take heart: the Bavarian automaker's elite M division has just released the M3 GTS. Following in the path lead by such legendary derivations as the M3 CSL, the new M3 GTS is a hardcore, performance-focused version of Munich's finest sports coupe.

The award-winning engine has been enlarged from 4 liters to 4.4, and output is tipped to have jumped up to 450 horsepower. But that's only half of the power-to-weight ratio, as the M division has put the M3 GTS on a serious weight-saving scheme to cut its curb weight by some 420 lbs, thanks to a stripped-out interior devoid of frivolities like air-conditioning, satellite navigation and radio, equipping the M3 GTS with things like an emergency cut-off switch, fire extinguisher, racing buckets and mounting points for a competition-spec roll-cage and six-point racing harness. Lightweight windows, upgraded wheels, tires and suspension and a radical aerodynamics package are also part of the mix.

The car's performance is expected to increase considerably, but all that extra kit comes at a price: 115,000 euros in this case, or about $170,000 – but the M3 GTS is not expected to make it to the North American market, with deliveries beginning in Germany next May.

Gallery: BMW M3 GTS