End of an era: The iconic M3 coupe bids adieu

In todays’ world, adjectives are often misused, but not in the automotive fraternity. Terms like iconic and legendary are still elite and preserved by the spearheads in the machine world. The aura an iconic car possesses is second to none and the BMW M3 is no different. But today, after years of reigning supremacy, BMW has marked the end of an era by rolling out one final M3, the last of its kind.

The E30 M3 was the first 3 series to wear the M badge. 26 years, four generations and umpteen limited editions later the E92 M3 will be the last M3 coupe from the family. The M3 coupe will now be named the M4, staying true to BMW's revised nomenclature where coupes and convertibles will use even numbers. There will still be a four door M3, but it’s the coupe that has always envied by us.

The M4 will also be a fierce and connected road car and will carry forward the tradition of the M badge, but the M3 has been the performance benchmark every manufacturer has aspired to reach. Having minted over 40,000 examples, the M3 has always stood out as one of the most performance intuitive road cars to have bestowed upon man. 

First the Mitsubishi Evolution Series now the M3 coupe, is this an end of a golden era in automobile engineering or the beginning of something even better? We like to believe it is the latter, but the demise will be remembered for a very long time.