M3 press introduction

[yves]

The Press has been invited to join BMW at the Ascari Race Resort in Spain for testing of the M3.
on the 18th and 19th of July.

most of you will have seen this video but this is the area in which the introduction of the Press will take place and ofcourse they will aslo make some laps around the Ascari Home track.

[swamp2]

Finally something fairly concrete as to when we will hear some driving impressions. Do you have some solid proof/announcement of this event? Can't wait.:rocks:

[m_bazeepaymon]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Finally something fairly concrete as to when we will hear some driving impressions. Do you have some solid proof/announcement of this event? Can't wait.:rocks:

didnt we hear that driving impressions were to be in June?
or was that bs?

[ruff]

I heard June as well.

[yves]

the dutch petrolhead.nl website said they received an invitation by BMW for these two days.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by yves

the dutch petrolhead.nl website said they received an invitation by BMW for these two days.

Thanks, sounds like good evidence to me! It will never come soon enough.

[SCOTT26]

The Press has been invited to join BMW at the Ascari Race Resort in Spain for testing of the M3.
on the 18th and 19th of July.

Hey just as I announced . Please do not attempt to Gatecrash - It is not open to the public - BMW has very effective security.

[m_bazeepaymon]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Hey just as I announced . Please do not attempt to Gatecrash - It is not open to the public - BMW has very effective security.

lol

[esquire]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Hey just as I announced . Please do not attempt to Gatecrash - It is not open to the public - BMW has very effective security.

so scott, how exactly do we sneak in?

[Steved]

Originally Posted by yves

The Press has been invited to join BMW at the Ascari Race Resort in Spain for testing of the M3.
on the 18th and 19th of July.

Ok, just to update you guys, the above information is not correct. The press launch will be earlier, which means you will be reading proper first drive reports in around 4 weeks time.

We will be heading off in just a few weeks for the launch and whilst I will not produce a write-up so you will need to read it when published in EVO magazine, but I will be able to let you know if it is a or a and of course answer factual questions.

I will aim to assess if the true M3 DNA remains intact in its migration to V8 power, if the extra weight makes it more of a GT car and whether the hardcore E46 M3 driver is likely to want one. I will of course be drawing a comparison with both the E46 M3 and its main competitor, so watch this space.

Only 4 weeks and you will know the answer...

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by Steved

Ok, just to update you guys, the above information is not correct. The press launch will be earlier, which means you will be reading proper first drive reports in around 4 weeks time.

We will be heading off in just a few weeks for the launch and whilst I will not produce a write-up before it is published in EVO magazine, I will be able to let you know if it is a or a .

I will aim to assess if the true M3 DNA remains intact in its migration to V8 power, if the extra weight makes it more of a GT car and whether the hardcore E46 M3 driver is likely to want one. I will of course be drawing a comparison with both the E46 M3 and its main competitor, so watch this space.

Only 4 weeks and you will know the answer...

Excellent info, thanks.
4 weeks is still mid July, like what was previously mentioned, 18-19 July. Are you saying sooner than that?

Also, any updates on when the last of the three M3 videos will be available?

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Excellent info, thanks.
4 weeks is still mid July, like what was previously mentioned, 18-19 July. Are you saying sooner than that?

We will be back and have written the article long before 18th July. I will be driving the M3 in less than 10 days from now.

[jpan08]

hope some new vids come out of this

[Steved]

Originally Posted by jpan08

hope some new vids come out of this

I will take my camera...

How sideways would you like it?

[Hans Delbruck]

Originally Posted by Steved

We will be back and have written the article long before 18th July. I will be driving the M3 in less than 10 days from now.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

[Hans Delbruck]

Originally Posted by Steved

We will be back and have written the article long before 18th July. I will be driving the M3 in less than 10 days from now.

I'm especially interested in the steering feel and steering effort -- perhaps you can compare it to your Z4MC? Have you driven the 997 GT3? Steering PERFECTION.

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

I'm especially interested in the steering feel and steering effort -- perhaps you can compare it to your Z4MC? Have you driven the 997 GT3? Steering PERFECTION.

There are a plenty of aspects I am keen to assess including steering feel, agility, braking, natural feel of the adaptive damping, consistency of the M-diff etc. Basically have BMW gone all soft and made the M3 too much of a GT car, or does it still represent the essence of M-Division.

** If you list down all the aspects you would like to know, then I will take these with me and try and answer you all when I get back **

[Hans Delbruck]

Originally Posted by Steved

Basically have BMW gone all soft and made the M3 too much of a GT car, or does it still represent the essence of M-Division.

Great! That is exactly my concern. Does the new M3 feel like an AMG Benz now, or does it feel more like a Porsche but with a real back seat? I hope the new car feels very stout in every way!

[jpan08]

are we going to find out real 0-60 times like car and driver always does?

oo take many pics thanks

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by Steved

There are a plenty of aspects I am keen to assess including steering feel, agility, braking, natural feel of the adaptive damping, consistency of the M-diff etc. Basically have BMW gone all soft and made the M3 too much of a GT car, or does it still represent the essence of M-Division.

** If you list down all the aspects you would like to know, then I will take these with me and try and answer you all when I get back **

What ever happened with your "10 day out" test drive? Sounds suspicious to me; too early for the press or the press' good buddy to get ahold of the car. BMW folks have said no one outside BMW drives the car before press launch.

[ILC32]

[Steved]

Originally Posted by swamp2

What ever happened with your "10 day out" test drive? Sounds suspicious to me; too early for the press or the press' good buddy to get ahold of the car. BMW folks have said no one outside BMW drives the car before press launch.

What '10 day out'?

I am sure I have mentioned previously our intention to get the new M3 along to the Ascari circuit in Southern Spain, accompanied by all its main competitors, and that may indeed happen later in the year (prob. September or later), but this is the official press launch that I am packing my toothpaste for.

In my experience the press only get to hear about official launch events with weeks to spare, this is usually to dissuade them from lining up comparison tests (i.e. bringing competitor products to the party).

So, this is the launch event, not some sneak preview and therefore you should be seeing reviews being published in magazines (including EVO) within the next month.