Base price: $57,250
As Tested: $72,470
414 horsepower
4.0L V8 automatic
14 city / 20 highway
More info:
www.bmwusa.com
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The BMW M3 coupe is like a supermodel with a black belt. It’s as sexy as they come, but it also can kick the ass of just about anything it takes on. Totally revamped inside and out for ’08, the M3 combines an athletic, racing stance with BMW’s luxury heritage. The carbon-fiber-reinforced black plastic roof on our white tester was jaw-droppingly cool and functional—it helps the car nail a power-to-weight ratio of 8.4 pounds per horsepower. The M3’s best angle is from the front, with its three sleek performance-boosting sub-grill air intakes, power dome bulge on the lightweight aluminum hood and space-age side view mirrors. If we got run over by this ride, we’d die with a smile.
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BMW engineered the M3’s cockpit to accommodate everything from a cruise to see The Dark Knight to a high-g turn on a closed track. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel with thumb contours provides a firm handle through slalom turns, and bolstered sport seats keep the driver planted. Our pimped-out M3 had serious options—including nav, carbon leather trim, premium sound system, parking assist—which helped pump the sticker up to $72-plus. BMW’s iDrive entertainment interface has a steep learning curve, but if that means more time behind the wheel of the M3, who cares?
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The M’s lightweight, efficient V8 engine cranks 414 horsepower with a rev limit of 8,400 rpm. Our tester’s optional 7-speed double-clutch transmission ($2,700) has 11 shift programs that can be tailored to individual drivers. The optional technology package ($3,250 well spent) includes the nav and BMW’s M drive, available at the touch of a steering wheel button, which activates personalized driver settings that allow for even more aggressive driving. Sure, the gas mileage numbers are identical to an Audi Q7, but with a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds, you’ll beat that Audi driver to the fuel pump.
-- by Sam Jemielity
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