The BMW M3 has been launched in India at Rs 1.198 crore (ex-showroom India). First showcased at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show in January, the four-door performance saloon has been launched in the Indian market along with its two-door sibling, the BMW M4, which will retail at Rs 1.218 crore.
Visually, the M3 looks grown up as compare to the previous car, thanks to a new bonnet, bigger wheel arches, a redesigned front grille and a small boot spoiler. The car comes with a host of M badges all over the car, to set it apart from the crowd of ‘standard’ 3 Series saloons. The M3 gets a carbon-fibre roof and carbon-ceramic brakes. You also get the familiar twin-stalk M wing-mirrors and a set of new air vents. The new M3 also gets BMW’s Adaptive LED headlamps. Inside, the M3 gets an automatic two-zone air-conditioning system, ambient lighting and M Sport bucket seats. The 8.8-inch touch screen on the centre console comes with the latest version of BMW’s infotainment system and BMW Apps, and can be controlled through an iDrive Touch Controller.
The new BMW M3 is powered by a twin-turbocharged M TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine. Even after losing out on two cylinders, BMW has managed to squeeze out 431bhp and 550Nm of torque, which is 17bhp and 150Nm more than the previous car’s V8 powerplant. The two turbochargers have helped BMW achieve this kind of power figures, while making sure that the engine is compliant with the latest emission regulations.
The engine comes mated to a seven-speed DCT (double clutch). The new M3 roughly weighs 80kg less than the previous M3, which means that the 0-100kmph dash takes just 4.1 seconds as compared to the old car’s 4.8 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 248kmph.
Despite being a performance saloon, fuel-saving features like automatic start/stop function and brake energy regeneration ensure that the M3 returns an ARAI certified efficiency of 10.75kmpl. The new M3 comes with an adaptive M suspension which can be adjusted in three modes - Comfort, Sport and Sport+.
The new M3 is offered in no less than eight vibrant paint schemes. With the new M3, BMW has offered the best of both worlds as it offers you the performance of a sports car combined with the practicality of a comfortable sedan. As of now, the BMW M3 doesn’t have any real competition in the Indian market, though the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and the Audi RS4 might pose some threat for the Beemer, once they are launched here.
