LA Debut: M3 Coupe and Sedan - PR

[southlight]

Ok, here's the confirmation via BMW Press release:


THE NEW BMW M3 COUPE AND SEDAN TO MAKE NORTH AMERICAN
DEBUT AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
The Fourth Generation Benchmark Performance Car – Now with a V-8

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – November 2, 2007… BMW will unveil one of the most anticipated new cars of the year as it raises the performance benchmark once again with the North American premieres of the 2008 M3 Coupe and Sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The all-new 4th generation 2008 M3 Coupe and the all-new 4 door M3 Sedan will arrive in the spring of 2008 and will feature a high-revving V-8 engine developing 414-horsepower at 8,300rpm, a first in a series-production BMW M3 and the highest-performing M3 ever offered by BMW’s M division.

The BMW M3 Coupe will feature a unique carbon fiber roof panel that reduces weight by 44lbs versus the optional steel roof panel with moonroof. Both the M3 Coupe and Sedan will feature driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls including steering, damping and stability (and an available steering-wheel-mounted “MDrive” button to store the preferences) and a sports oriented interior that can be optimized to a driver’s desires. including the comprehensive entertainment/navigation system operated through BMW’s latest iDrive controller.

[EDIT: Attached you find the full PR]


Best regards, south

[UltimateBMW]

No mention of a M-DCT.

[EBuyuk]

Do you guys think that we can get an M3 with M-DCT sometime during March in Europe? I was really expecting the debut of this transmission at the LA show.

[MI6]

NO M-DCT for YOU!..........

[JEllis]

still hoping for MDCT in the US by spring.

[BMW3R]

Originally Posted by JEllis

still hoping for MDCT in the US by spring.

Have they added a feature like this after sending the options to the dealerships? I too would like the feature, but I am doubtful that we will see it by Spring.

[RenaultOne]

I cant wait for the LA Auto Show!!!

[ase2dais]

nice

[Epacy]

Thanks S!!!!

Now where is that MSRP press release!!

[masmole]

Originally Posted by BMW3R

Have they added a feature like this after sending the options to the dealerships? I too would like the feature, but I am doubtful that we will see it by Spring.

Who is developing the M3's M-DCT? If it's the same company also developing the dual-clutch tranny for the Evo X, then it's not looking good since that transmission has now been reported as delayed for the Evo X MR and a 5-speed manual is the only option for the Evo's launch.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by masmole

Who is developing the M3's M-DCT? If it's the same company also developing the dual-clutch tranny for the Evo X, then it's not looking good since that transmission has now been reported as delayed for the Evo X MR and a 5-speed manual is the only option for the Evo's launch.

Getrag. I don't who makes the EVO transmission.

[UltimateBMW]

Getrag's webpage.

http://www.getrag.de/313

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

Getrag's webpage.

http://www.getrag.de/313

More specifically, here's the transmission that is the most likely candidate.

http://www.getrag.de/455

[JEllis]

cool

[lucid]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

More specifically, here's the transmission that is the most likely candidate.

http://www.getrag.de/455

Greg, stop teasing us by posting the DCT pic every 2-3 weeks on threads. My heart just cannot take it. It will make me commit some kind of crime of passion. This wait is driving me crazy. This board doesn't help either with people like you posting pics of things I want but cannot have! I am angry at BMW. Yes, I am really really angry at BMW...Wait, I can finally tell my therapist that I feel anger...This might be a great step in my journey toward self-healing and realizing the worth of 5MT 4-cylinder cars.

[Sedan_Clan]

What's interesting to me is the verbiage:


"The BMW M3 Coupe will feature a unique carbon fiber roof panel that reduces weight by 44lbs versus the optional steel roof panel with moonroof."

Of course we all know that the coupe will receive the CF roof, however, it states that the difference in weight is compared to the steel roof with a moonroof. Is this to imply that a sedan purchased without the moonroof might be even closer in weight when compared to the coupe? How much is one to assume that the moonroof weighs?

[ase2dais]

Heck! 44lbs is not much for me, sunroof pls. if and whenever I get one

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

Heck! 44lbs is not much for me, sunroof pls. if and whenever I get one

Agreed (...even though I dislike moonroofs, and always order my BMW's without them. The only reason that I have one on my 330i sedan is because it came as a standard option)! I was just curious about the verbiage.

[Los Angeles]

Sunroofs are the shit.

Nothing better than opening the top and rolling the windows down on a sunny day.

Heck, I sometimes do it in the evening.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

What's interesting to me is the verbiage:


"The BMW M3 Coupe will feature a unique carbon fiber roof panel that reduces weight by 44lbs versus the optional steel roof panel with moonroof."

Of course we all know that the coupe will receive the CF roof, however, it states that the difference in weight is compared to the steel roof with a moonroof. Is this to imply that a sedan purchased without the moonroof might be even closer in weight when compared to the coupe? How much is one to assume that the moonroof weighs?

SC, I think there was a thread here that said the CF roof saved only 11lbs vs. a normal steel roof. So yep, the sedan with no sunroof will be closer in weight to the coupe than the sedan with sunroof will. And in fact, it seems conceivable that a sedan without sunroof could weigh less than a coupe with sunroof.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by EBuyuk

Do you guys think that we can get an M3 with M-DCT sometime during March in Europe? I was really expecting the debut of this transmission at the LA show.

I think (base on prevailing rumor) that the M-DCT will debut in Geneva.

My further personal speculation is that it will be available very soon after, at least in Europe. US might have to wait til MY2009 (September).

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I think (base on prevailing rumor) that the M-DCT will debut in Geneva.

My further personal speculation is that it will be available very soon after, at least in Europe. US might have to wait til MY2009 (September).

I bet you're right on that. So March 4-16 for debut. I could imagine them putting into immediate production, but I could also imagine them holding it for 2009 model to stretch out the excitment. That would suck, IMO.