Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, LA Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, BMW

The expansion of BMW’s M3 lineup is expected to take place sooner than we anticipated, and a new version of the Bavarian bomber will finally put the oft-maligned sequential gearbox to rest. According to Auto Telegraaf, BMW will be debuting the M3 sedan at a major Stateside auto show, likely L.A. or Detroit, and along with an extra set of doors, it’ll be sporting the automaker’s new dual-clutch gearbox. Rumored to be dubbed “M DCT,” the new ‘box will get seven forward gears that can be controlled by either a new shift lever, much like the one found in the new X5, or steering-wheel mounted paddles shifters. BMW also plans to offer a traditional six-speed manual for those who prefer to row their own gears.

The regularly spied convertible version of the M3 is also on its way, which is proving to be an engineering challenge for the M-division due to the extra tonnage the retractable hardtop tacks onto the curb weight. We’ve heard that a track-bred CSL is also under development, and that its debut is likely to take place some time in 2009.

[Source: Auto Telegraaf via Motor Authority]

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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, BMW

UPDATE: Truth be told, these could be photoshops. At first glance they looked like brochure shots to us, but we’ll let you decide.

click above image to both pics of the BMW M3 sedan

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/design/Official_shots_of_BMW_M3_sedan_leaked_PICS’; God bless forums, you have to love them. The occasional flame war aside (who are we to talk?), they’re often the repository of choice material like this, what appears to be the first official images of the BMW M3 sedan scanned from a brochure. The main shot is large enough to appreciate how well the M3 style plays with the proportions of the 3-Series sedan, while the tiny pic gives us a profile comparison between the M3 coupe and sedan. What do you need to know about the M3 sedan that’s different from the M3 coupe. Well, it’s got two extra doors, but aside from that the same 420 HP V8 will be powering the rear wheels, which is all that’s important to us. Any more details will have to wait until BMW officially takes the wraps off of its super sedan, which is expected to happen at an upcoming auto show, hopefully the L.A. Auto Show in mid-November.

Thanks for the tip, Mark!

[Source: M3post.com]

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Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedans/Saloons, BMW

click above image to view 28 pics of the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/design/Officially_Official_2008_BMW_M3_Sedan_unveiled_PICS’; We’ve been waiting a long time for BMW to snap out of its haze and bring us a four-door version of the venerable M3 coupe. That time has officially come. And it turns out the leaked photo from earlier today was probably from BMW itself, as even though it wasn’t included in the official batch of images released tonight, it’s the same car you’re looking at here.

On the outside, the M3 sedan gets plenty of work done to its front and rear fascias, leaving everything between the A-pillar and C-pillar intact from the base 3-Series sedan (sorry, no carbon fiber roof for the sedan). The front end is a complete carryover from the M3 coupe, with wide fenders, a dramatic front clip, bulging hood and vented quarter panels. Out back, a small lip spoiler sits atop the trunk, while M-specific quad pipes let Bimmer cognoscenti know that they’re behind something special.

Naturally, the M3 sedan benefits from BMW’s new 414 (SAE) HP 4.0L V8, allowing the 3,531-pound four-door to reach 60 MPH in 4.9 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 MPH. In a move that should make family-oriented speed freaks burst into tears, BMW will only be offering a six-speed manual version at launch. Although, according to previous reports, BMW’s dual-clutch M-DCT gearbox should be available at a later date. The chassis, suspension and interior also benefit from a host of upgrades, all available to read about in the press release after the jump and view in our gallery below. Look for the M3 sedan to debut in Los Angeles next month.

[Source: BMW via Motive]

Continue reading 2008 BMW M3 Sedan unveiled!

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Filed under: Car Buying, Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Sedans/Saloons, BMW

Click the image above for plenty of high-res pics.

If you’ve got a hankering for a V8-powered, carbon fiber-roofed über 3-series, BMW has finally named its price for the M3 coupe and sedan. $57,275 will buy you entry into the M3 Coupe, and bargain hunters willing to settle for an extra pair of doors can get the M3 Sedan in their driveway for $54,575. The M3’s come a long way since it’s E30 homologation-special roots. The cylinder count has now doubled from that original car, the long serving six cylinders having been jettisoned in favor of a 414 horsepower V8. The interior of the new M3s is a level of luxury unknown to the E30, too. The optional wheel-mounted M-Drive control will allow the driver to customize engine and chassis responses, and iDrive shuffles media and navigation chores. These prices will likely be less than what typical M3s roll off the lot for, as most buyers will want to add some options, and in the world of BMW, options cost.

Press release after the jump.

Continue reading Detroit 2008: BMW announces M3 pricing

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