Simply Muscle-Power with the M3

With a seemingly never-ending release of new vehicles from its HQ in Munich, BMW is not resting on its laurels with a number of success stories. From across its product line there is now a performance model to cater for almost every market segment it is in and we take a trip to sunny Marbella to see what the latest M3 is all about.

What we were not prepared for was the ride of our life as we had the opportunity to test this awesome machine in both country roads and also the famous Ascari racetrack. This new M3 is a 21-year progression from docile looking pumped up 2-litre, four-cylinder, 200bhp road-racer to a lethal 4-litre, eight-cylinder, 414bhp bitumen-munching monster.

The biggest evolutionary development in this E92 M3 is the introduction of the V8 engine that is normally aspirated. It is a sexy looking power plant with the hood up and the idle noise reminds us of the E46 M3.

However do not be fooled by the rather docile idle beat as when the revs are called up the V8 screams like a F1 induced engine that will leave your hair standing at its ends with excitement. Well enough of standing around and getting all excited in the sun. It was time to get behind the wheel and feel for ourselves the On the open highway on the route back the V8 really showed us its colours as we pulled the revs at every gear right up to 6th reaching insane speed in access of 250km/h with utter ease. Bringing smiles to our faces as we went past every vehicle on the road and never feeling even a tad worried of our pace.

We get some track time at the Ascari racetrack and it is time to use the ‘M’ drive button. The transformation is less noticeable like in the Audi RS4 but the combined effects of tightening the dampers, loosening the DSC, sharpening the throttle and reducing the steering assistance is appreciated as we work the M3 on the racetrack.

With its muscle car looks assisted heavily by the power doom bonnet and aggressive fenders filled with gorgeous 18in alloys this new M3 hints of possible greater things to come from ‘M’ with the next generation CSL.

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