Next-Gen M3 Spotted in California: Caught Again (7/11/06)

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Leftlanenews.com
Photographer Brooks Uhrig — member of the SB Euro Club discussion forums — snapped several great photos of a 2007/2008 BMW M3 coupe prototype in testing in Santa Barbaraa. These are the first photos we’ve seen of the new car, which is now wearing less disguise than ever. Based on the 2007 BMW 3-Series coupe, the car is distinguished by its wider fender flares and quad tail pipes. The front, side, and rear skirts are placeholders, and the makeshift hood barely conceals the big V8 beneath. The M3 coupe will offer over 400 horsepower, and will debut later this year or early next
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...Hotness!
 
The front end is a little overstyled (ie. curvy), but otherwise a very nice BMW. Way nicer than the normal 3-series. The back-end is very slick.
 
This makes me feel better after that chest pain from laghing at Lexus's new "performance" sedan. I wish they would have stuck with an inline 6 though, to keep the heritage going.
 
Yeah, I6 would have been nice... But with the horsepower war now pushing the limit over 400 BHP, I don't think BMW wanted to over-engineer the I6 to do the job of a great V8.
 
Obviously power restrictions held back their I6/V8 decision. I don't think they liked the idea of a turbo, though I don't know if they're part of BMW's history. I thought they like natural aspiration. I guess we'll have to get over it, eh?
 
I think this pic with the driver should help show the size some.

The new 3 isn't that big, it's just big compared to older BMW's.

The main thing I want to know is, how much will it weigh.
 
I still think the sedan looks better than this. If BMW made a sedan M3, i'd actually get that over this.
why didn't BMW just stick with the sedan's bodyd and just lop off the rear doors to make the coupe? Like the e46? It'd look so much nicer.
Imagine if you saw this beauty coming in your rearview mirror:
bmw-m3-e90-1.jpg
 
I'd think "Damn, those wheels are huge!"

While the PS looks more aggressive and masculine, I kinda like the sleekness of the BMW design.
 
Well, the hood bulge is probably pretty close, it's gonna need more clearance, and the current makeshift one is a little silly from the side.

I like what I'm seeing though, somewhat understated, the way an M series should be.
 
Hmm, I actually like that. A lot nicer than I thought, and maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have BBS design some rims for it.

Looks great.👍


Now on to reality....How much am I gonna have to fork over now due to the new engine?
 
Raghavan
I still think the sedan looks better than this. If BMW made a sedan M3, i'd actually get that over this.
why didn't BMW just stick with the sedan's bodyd and just lop off the rear doors to make the coupe?
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Because the rearend of the E90 sedan is a mishmash of horrible lines and design choices, making it the worst-looking current BMW from the rear (even the 5-series, because at least the rear-end on that is proportionally sound). The back-end of this car is slick. Your right about the front, but maybe BMW wanted more of an elegant look than a muscular one.
 
Raghavan
Imagine if you saw this beauty coming in your rearview mirror:
bmw-m3-e90-1.jpg
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I'd be very excited. I couldn't tell you anymore than that on this "PG" rated website.
 
I do wish the power bulge was centered in that PS.

It screws with my eyes, as for the E90, well, I used to own an E28 5 Series, which is undeniably a very funny looking, but cool car in it's own way, the E90 is also funny looking, but cool in it's own way, it's a BMW.
 
I would steal it.
Im glad they are finally showing a little of the new M3. Weve been waiting.
Is it true it will have a V8? Any specs? Price range?
I think it looks perfect, as always has.
What will the CSL look like?
 
Toronado
Because the rearend of the E90 sedan is a mishmash of horrible lines and design choices, making it the worst-looking current BMW from the rear (even the 5-series, because at least the rear-end on that is proportionally sound). The back-end of this car is slick. Your right about the front, but maybe BMW wanted more of an elegant look than a muscular one.
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I think the M6 has the worst rear.

Anyway, the front of this coupe looks a little weird, but it looks decent overall. It would look better if the rims were black.
 
aznsklndrftr
That thing looks mean but i'm feeling a little bit of pontiac gto from it. . .
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And that's a bad thing, because??? Call me crazy, but I like cars that look harmless, but will eat you alive at every stoplight (hence my like of the M-cars, and the GTO as well.)
 
That PS looks mean. I think the tails on the M3 would look nice if they moved the ambers/reverse "stripe" to start at the inside of the actual tail light. The light design itself is nice (like, I like how the red lights up), but the layout is total ass. It's like BMW didn't even try it any other way. Bangle made one drawing and said, "DO IT, OR I CUT MY ARM OFF!"
 
kylehnat
And that's a bad thing, because??? Call me crazy, but I like cars that look harmless, but will eat you alive at every stoplight (hence my like of the M-cars, and the GTO as well.)
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calm down man i was just talkin about how the hood reminds me of a new gto but bmws are supposed to be like ultimate nice german sports car thing and the gto is just another loud american muscle car.
 
^lol

To be purely technical, the American Muscle Car is an SUV these days, we're seeing a Pony Car revival though.

I like the looks of the (E94?) M3 a lot, and can see it being a very handsome car...just wish I could say handsome little car.

I'll take mine in E30 form, thanks.
 
I'm still waiting for the E92 to grow on me, but I can't help but feel frustrated that the great-looking front end is on the sedan, but the great-looking rear end is on the coupe... :grumpy:

I'm sure that chopping up the front of the E92 to mount E90 headlights isn't impossible, but it would have been nice if BMW saved people from going through the trouble.

Onikaze
I'll take mine in E30 form, thanks.
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That goes without saying. :lol:
 
I should mention that I have a problem with BMW cars that's absolutely pathetic. Within a specific range of models, I can't tell the different models apart to save my own life. An M3 looks almost exactly the same as a 325ci to me. If I can't see the badging, I'm completely clueless. I find it amazing that some people can nail the specific generation with these cars, given such a limited (my POV only) amount of clues.

That said, this M3 doesn't look much different from the current to me. Which is to say, it's not too bad, but it still has that BMW design genericness that puts me off slightly (though the performance tends to make up for it).
 
Elegy
I should mention that I have a problem with BMW cars that's absolutely pathetic. Within a specific range of models, I can't tell the different models apart to save my own life. An M3 looks almost exactly the same as a 325ci to me. If I can't see the badging, I'm completely clueless. I find it amazing that some people can nail the specific generation with these cars, given such a limited (my POV only) amount of clues.

That said, this M3 doesn't look much different from the current to me. Which is to say, it's not too bad, but it still has that BMW design genericness that puts me off slightly (though the performance tends to make up for it).
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That's a trend with all upscale Euro makers. You can't tell between a SL65 and a SL55 unless you look really close. The same is for almost any Mercedes and BMW models.
 
Porsche, too...I have similar problems pegging a Carrera in the midst of a pack of 911s, and heaven help me if someone asks me which are 996s and which are 997s. :dunce:
 
Elegy
I should mention that I have a problem with BMW cars that's absolutely pathetic. Within a specific range of models, I can't tell the different models apart to save my own life. An M3 looks almost exactly the same as a 325ci to me. If I can't see the badging, I'm completely clueless. I find it amazing that some people can nail the specific generation with these cars, given such a limited (my POV only) amount of clues.

That said, this M3 doesn't look much different from the current to me. Which is to say, it's not too bad, but it still has that BMW design genericness that puts me off slightly (though the performance tends to make up for it).
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It's something you pick up when you're a fan. I have no idea how my dad and uncle can differentiate between many musclecars and 50's cars, even down to the specific model year. Many other people can do the same. :crazy:

The telltale sign of an "M" on more-recent cars is the front spoiler, which has picked up a distinctive shape and is used on all M cars:

Not an M
notanm8nq.jpg


M
m5ma.jpg


Elegy
Porsche, too...I have similar problems pegging a Carrera in the midst of a pack of 911s, and heaven help me if someone asks me which are 996s and which are 997s. :dunce:
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Actually, "Carrera" is just the name given to the base-model 911's, so if a 911 isn't a turbo, GT3, GT2, etc., it's a Carrera.

996's are distinctive from 993's and 997's because of their "egg-yolk" headlights. 993 and 997 headlights are simply ovals.
 

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