new M3 Concept Coupe -- Large PICS and Observations

[Steved]

Originally Posted by devo

I guess my point is that it's not the CF that you are hearing; it's obviously, the free flowing airbox, which could be made of anything. It won't sound different because it's CF.

But that's my point. It does sound different because of the CF. I realise you may never have actually driven one, but the characteristic sound was clear. And such a sound would be too uncivilised for a regular daily driver.

The spec of the car driven on stage showed a mixture of elements from both CSL and M3, but for those of us who have CSL orders in play it showed that the CSL may not be as far away as we thought.

[nickthaskater]

I really don't see how the material is going to make a difference in the sound, and it doesn't really make sense that they'd throw an E46 CSL airbox in with the brand new V8 either.

[ILC32]

If there was a cf airbox on its running concept, why would BMW not show it off by popping the hood?

[Should be Working]

Originally Posted by nickthaskater

Considering this car appears to be laden with full climate controls and other luxuries, not to mention a manual gearbox, I doubt if this is a CSL model. Considering how fast the 335 is, maybe BMW decided to pull the stops on the base model to keep it in the spotlight? Who knows, just have to await the specs I suppose.

I agree on this one. The car has non-lightweight M seats, cruise control, Sat Nav, DVD and seat heating. The wheels are great too - similar to the E46 CSL and the run-out CS. I think this is pretty much the standard car.

Did BMW do a concept CSL at any motor shows before they launched the E46 CSL?

BTW - is that a power button I can see? Can anyone get a close up of the centre console?

[GregL]

Anyone else notice they dumped the pop-up headlight washers in favour of fixed nozzles?

[zeebeda]

i think i'm in love

[Mdrei]

The plate says M3 Concept...not M3 CSL Concept. I just got of the phone with a reporter that is at the Geneva show. This is the M3 in a concept form, not the CSL, he was told that there could be elements that will not make it into the production model.

Yes, there is a power button

[Steved]

Originally Posted by nickthaskater

I really don't see how the material is going to make a difference in the sound, and it doesn't really make sense that they'd throw an E46 CSL airbox in with the brand new V8 either.

Because that's how a CF airbox sounds - I have fitted them to enough race cars and owned one myself for long enough to tell - but I can understand how that might not be obvious to you.

I have known there will be a CSL version coming out for a few years now, but I had not expected BMW to signal it so clearly this early on.

Well at least it's made my decision clearer about whether to pick up an early M3 or wait until the CSL version.

[shragon]

- the cf roof is just siiik.

- really like the side profile.

- has a nice muscular stance.

- i still got to warm up to the front and rear bumpers. at the current time i'm not that big of a fan of them at some angles.

- the bulge in the hood is a bit awkward.

- glad that the license plate remained on the trunk where it belongs, not like that silly photoshopped image posted in the past.

- surprised to still see csl (or similar) wheels being used (they do look awesome on the car though). but this is the concept, so it's possible it may be changed.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by Steved

Well at least it's made my decision clearer about whether to pick up an early M3 or wait until the CSL version.

Right, because you have hard evidence all these features will be removed in the regular M3.
Good choice.

[nickthaskater]

You're a rather cocky Mr Know It All, aren't you Steved? What difference does the material make, enlighten me? The design I can understand, but the actual material of the thing, no. And again, why would a CSL have all of the luxuries and features pointed out earlier? If this was a CSL Concept, I doubt BMW would shy away from stating that fact. And as far as knowing that a CSL was going to come out for a couple years, are you head of the development team or something?

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Right, because you have hard evidence all these features will be removed in the regular M3.
Good choice.

As you wish.

[epiphone3]

It seems odd that this would be a CSL... it looks like there is a stereo in there and I would think that the CSL would also not make use of the i-drive system due to the weight.

Not convinced that this is necessarily CSL... BMW wanted to make this one special to show everyone how overpriced the RS4 really is by selling this (which is more) for less.

[shragon]

i also don't agree this car is a csl version. before bmw releases m cars to production, they're always labeled as "bmw m# concept". before the e46 m3 csl was released, it had it's own concept as well. the m6 has a cf roof, so why not the m3.

[wamy]

super hot car

[NaViT]

its looks so aggressive... that was the show stopper for sure in Geneva

[coaster]

Originally Posted by shragon

-

- the bulge in the hood is a bit awkward.

Thank you, for a moment I thought everyone just went blind. Beautiful car in all aspects but what is up with the hood people? That is a HUGE bump on that hood and makes the car look like a ricer. What happened to the "understated" performance? All we need is to cut a hole around the bump and stick the Mel Gibson supercharger on top of that.

I hope the f-ing bump doesn't make it to production. Please ...

BTW, the interior pictures shown here do not really reveal what the redline on the tachometer is. Anybody saw it?

[devo]

Originally Posted by Steved

Because that's how a CF airbox sounds - I have fitted them to enough race cars and owned one myself for long enough to tell - but I can understand how that might not be obvious to you.

I have known there will be a CSL version coming out for a few years now, but I had not expected BMW to signal it so clearly this early on.

Well at least it's made my decision clearer about whether to pick up an early M3 or wait until the CSL version.

I don't buy it. It's the free flowing intake that makes the sound, not the material used to create the airbox. Many of us on this forum have spent a great deal of our lives around high performance vehicles and have a similar working knowledge.

[ILC32]

BMW M3, Concept



Its very name is a symbol for unique performance on the racetrack and in everyday traffic. For two decades, BMW M3 has embodied the athletic heart of the brand in its most fundamental and succinct form. Its dominating role in motor sports and the ultimate driving experience it affords the driver on the road are inseparably intertwined. The qualities on which this synthesis is founded have given the BMW M3 the exceptional status it enjoys the world over. At BMW M GmbH, engineers have persisted in continuing this success story with the presentation of the new BMW M3 Concept Car. The concept study being presented to the public for the first time at the 77th International Motor Show in Geneva (8th to 18th of March, 2007) gives a first impression of what a future BMW M3 might look like.

The basic form for the BMW M3 Concept Car is a derivative of the new BMW 3 Series Coupé. The few components adopted directly from the series model are the headlamps and taillamps and, as the only body elements, the two doors and the luggage compartment lid. In all other respects, the BMW M3 Concept Car, which is being presented in the Chrome Shadow finish characteristic of BMW M GmbH concept studies, is obviously an individualistic and athletic vehicle with technology at the focus of its engineering.

Individualistic body concept with emotional aesthetics.

In keeping with tradition, the engineers at BMW M GmbH developed the BMW M3 Concept Car as a fundamentally individualistic vehicle. The level of commitment to this approach is clearly demonstrated by its body. While it is based on the dimensions and the underlying form of the BMW 3 Series Coupé, virtually all body elements have been newly developed and designed from the ground up. Apart from the supporting vehicle structure, only the doors and the luggage compartment lid were taken over from the series model. All other components were specially engineered for the BMW M3 Concept Car, lending the vehicle exterior unique aesthetics that accentuate its superior power. Unmistakable features that make the BMW M3 Concept Car instantly recognisable are the special trim at the front and rear, the engine compartment lid with its bulging Powerdome and two air intakes, the lateral air slots in the front side walls, the side skirts and the exterior mirrors in a BMW M typical design.

Front with additional air intakes, engine compartment lid with Powerdome.

Faithful to the principle of “form follows function” in designing the body for the concept study, designers at BMW M GmbH used elements that not only visually emphasise the increased sportiness of the vehicle, but also serve a technical purpose. Conspicuous at the front are three large air intakes below the cooling grille that supply the engine with additional intake and cooling air. Strong, vertical struts delineate the air intakes and enhance their characteristic form.

The aluminium engine compartment lid exhibits a wide bulging curvature known as the Powerdome. Like the air intakes beside it, the Powerdome suggests the great potential that can be expected of a powerplant in the engine bay of a BMW M3. The M3 Concept Car features a high revving V8 engine that is anticipated for the series car once it goes into production.

The contours of the Powerdome and air intakes are in line with the forward-pointing sweep of the engine compartment lid and harmoniously blend into the overall design of the front, which is longer than that of the BMW 3 Series Coupé. Together with the double kidney grille typical of BMW and the flat headlamp units, they lend the BMW M3 Concept Car a highly dynamic character.

Wheel arches and side skirts communicate agility and stability.
The muscular front wheel arches of the BMW M3 Concept Car symbolise the high level of agility and driving stability achieved by this vehicle. Together with the forged 19-inch light alloy rims in the classic Y-spoke design, they emphasise the vehicle’s wide track, while a glance through the spokes of the rims reveals the compound high performance brakes developed exclusively for M vehicles.


The opening behind the wheel arch on the front side wall, which the designers refer to as gills, has an elaborate three-dimensional form that is split by a discreet chrome bracket containing the direction indicator and the M3 logo.

Two arched surfaces form the pronounced side skirt, creating a purposefully designed contrast between light and shadow. By giving the side wall a lower appearance, the side skirt lends the car a lighter, sportier look from this angle. The incidence of light on the likewise sharply defined rear wing and wheel stresses the dynamic character of this vehicle and visually highlights its rear-wheel drive.

The design of the side skirt corresponds with the shape of the strongly pronounced contour line. The play of light and shadow between the parallel contours of the skirt and contour line brings about a tightness in design that emphasises the individual character of the BMW M3 Concept Car even more strongly.

Exclusive exterior mirrors developed for the BMW M3 Concept Car feature the characteristic black double foot that reminds the viewer of the wings of an aircraft. Even this small detail is in keeping with the principle of “form follows function”. With their horizontal contour line and tapered shape toward the outside, the exterior mirrors not only contribute to the overall impression of the vehicle, but their aerodynamic shape, optimised in a wind tunnel, is advantageous to air resistance values.

Wide track, muscular stance – rear design emphasises dynamic performance.
The rear of the BMW M3 Concept Car picks up on the design of the car’s front. The side lines gradually sink toward the rear and the wings end in a modelled hollow flute, emphasising the rear-wheel drive and visualising the superior dynamics of this vehicle. From any angle, the rear creates the impression of a pronounced wheel orientation and a muscular stance. Its proportions lend it confidence and a calm yet powerful impression. A visually discreet spoiler lip on the luggage compartment lid, also called a Gurney flap, optimally channels the air at the rear and additionally reduces lift on the rear axle.

The contours of the diffuser, whose design is subdivided by modelled struts, mirror the shape of the air intakes at the front. The diffuser and the double exhaust tailpipes positioned close to the vehicle’s longitudinal axis appear to pull the rear together at the centre and build up a tension in conjunction with the horizontal lines of the bumper. The tailpipes have a round cross section and are cut off vertically, as is typical for BMW M GmbH engineering.

Exclusive roof with visible carbon fibre structure.

There is hardly a body element in the BMW M3 Concept Car that exhibits the level of advanced technology as clearly as the roof. It is constructed of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). Specialists at the BMW Plant in Landshut, Germany, rely on an exclusive production method in which the structure of the Formula 1 material remains visible and the finely structured surface is only coated with a layer of clear finish.

As a highly visible advanced technology component, the CFRP roof dominates the technically innovative appearance of the BMW M3 Concept Car. Seen from the side, it lets the roof edge appear flatter and thus lowers the perceived body height. Apart from the exclusive appearance, the CFRP roof also offers a real technical advantage: It is considerably lighter than a steel roof. This not only reduces the overall vehicle weight, but by reducing the weight of the highest element in the body, the centre of gravity is lowered as well. Thus, the reduction in weight at this location is particularly beneficial to the agility and dynamic performance of the vehicle.

The CFRP roof is a perfect example of how interlinking technical innovation with an individual design strategy was central to the development of the BMW M3 Concept Car. Following the tradition of the previous three generations of the BMW M3, this concept study represents a high performance sports car interpreted for use in everyday diving, with its every detail being yet another example of the objective pursued by the engineers. The BMW M3 Concept Car is a vision that shows where striving for the ultimate driving experience will take us in the future.

BMW M3 Highlights

Concept study of a BMW M3 by BMW M GmbH, dimensions and fundamental form based on BMW 3 Series Coupe, exclusive new engineering of almost every body element, purpose-built for individualistic form and maximum sporting potential.
At the core of this concept study is an M3-typical V8 engine tuned to the high revving M concept.
Front design conveying a high performance sports car, functional execution of the front apron and engine compartment lid, a robust Powerdome and large air intakes that express the vehicle’s superior drive power, particularly voluminous air intakes for ample air supply to the engine compartment through the elimination of fog lamps, typical of M, and a front apron in a pronounced forward position that symbolises the car’s motoring spirit.
Sharply defined wheel arches, gill-shaped openings in the front side walls with an elaborate three-dimensional design typical of M cars, and chrome brackets with integrated direction indicators.Characteristic M-brand side skirts providing the side view with an energy-laden accent, visual emphasis of the rear-wheel drive and car’s wide track, 19-inch light alloy rims with the characteristic Y-spoke design, exclusive exterior mirrors with an aerodynamically optimised design.
Rear design with horizontal lines accentuating the car’s wide track, pronounced wheel orientation as a symbol of its powerful stance, rear diffuser that mirrors design elements of the front apron, balanced proportions underlining the BMW M3’s supremacy, M-typical double tailpipes arranged toward the centre of the vehicle.
Intelligent lightweight construction that directly influences the vehicle’s agility and dynamic performance, aluminium engine compartment lid.
Side walls made of synthetic material and CFRP roof that optimise weight distribution and centre of gravity, visible CFRP roof construction as an additional design element, emphasis of flat silhouette and high tech character of the vehicle.


(From Eni)

[M.Suka]

WOW!

[Hans Delbruck]

I love the hood. It definitely sets the car apart from the regular 3 Series Coupe. All the mules running around had the hood camo'd so I definitely think it will be part of the production model. Excellent.

Overall, I like it enough to keep my spot on the list. Looking forward to more specs.......

[Ron@Modbargains]

Looks hot! The interior cf trim could be better though.