[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by spmd11

Cool...okay so what is different about the M3 gearing, specifically, when compared to the 335, that puts more power to the ground?

Different ratios...

Force is (engine torque x gearbox gear ratio x axle ratio) / tire radius

Acceleration is Force / mass

And don't think of torque peak. Peak also means little. Torque and force vary by rpm and gearbox gear. But rather than measure each rpm, measure increments usually at 500 rpm increments.

When you multiple the torque output at a given rpm increment and gearbox ratio x axle ratio (rear diff) and divide by tire radius you get the force at that rpm in that gearbox gear. Long story short is the M3 is producing far more force at the same rpm increments than the 335i (regardless of gearbox gear). The force is roughly the same until 2,500 rpms then the M3's force increases measurably more comparatively as rpms increase. At higher rpms the difference is significant...more than enough to make up for the mass difference. Thus the M3's chosen gear ratios combined with a very flat torque curve work together to produce significant force and subsequently strong acceleration...measurably more so than the 335i does with its different gear ratios and engine torque curve (power delivery) characteristics which is biased to lower and mid rpms.