BMW cleans up new M3 saloon with EfficientDynamics
New BMW M3 saloon available from £50K now
Author: David Miles
Published: 18 March 2008
It was ironic that just as the UK motoring media were getting behind the wheel last week of BMW’s latest M model, the M3 Saloon, so The Chancellor in his Budget was hitting UK motorists with additional clean and green taxes.
It is also ironic that BMW as a manufacturer with their award winning EfficientDynamics programme has done more than most car makers so far to introduce technologies for production cars that lower emissions, implement energy capture systems, research alternative fuel sources yet still retain the power and performance associated with their products.
Speaking at the media introduction to the BMW M3 Saloon last week, BMW said that in 2008 they expect to sell 700,000 new cars in Europe incorporating EfficientDynamics technologies and this will save 33 million gallons of fuel, compared to their pre-EfficientDynamics cars sold in 2006.
This leads to a reduction in CO2 of 373,000 tonnes in Europe, enough to provide electrical energy for 190,000 people for more than four years. There are now 110,000 BMW cars on British roads incorporating EfficientDynamics technology. This saves 54,000 tonnes of CO2. All but two model ranges, the aging 7 Series and the Z4 sports cars have it.
BMW UK also said that the latest changes in taxation for cars and in particular more powerful models will hit hardest from 2010 onwards. It is unlikely to be a deterrent for many people who can afford to pay more to drive more powerful cars.
The BMW M3 Saloon officially went on sale in the UK on 8 March 2008 priced from £49,415. BMW will also introduce a M3 Convertible model in May this year costing £54,760. The M3 Coupe was introduced last Summer and costs £50,830.
BMW expects to sell 400 M3 Saloons in a full year and 1,700 M3 Coupes but no figures are predicted for the yet to be launched M3 Convertible at this stage. BMW say they can swap production totals between the three M3 derivatives depending upon demand. Retail customers account for 66 per cent of M3 sales in the UK.
BMW sold 1,942 M models of all types in the UK last year. In 2008 the total they say will increase to over 3,500 units. A total of 58,450 BMW 3 Series were sold in the UK in 2007 with the Saloon accounting for nearly half of them.
The new BMW M3 Saloon uses the same V8, 4.0-litre, 420hp, 400Nm of torque, petrol engine as the M3 Coupe and forthcoming M3 Convertible. The models use a six-speed manual transmission and a variable M differential with drive to the rear wheels. Top speed is limited to 155mph and zero to 62mph takes just 4.9 seconds.
The average fuel economy is 22.8mph and CO2 emissions are 295g/km giving it a new Vehicle Excise Duty rating of Band M, the highest there is so the annual road tax bill is £400 from 1 April this year.
A new seven-speed, double-clutch manual gearbox with paddle-shift or gear lever changes will become available for the M3 Saloon, the M3 Convertible and M3 Coupe.
This faster changing transmission reduces the M3 Saloon’s 0-62mph time by 0.2 seconds, improves average fuel economy to 23.7mpg and lowers CO2 levels to 285g/km, but road tax remains at £400. The M DCT transmission costs £2,590.
In a car industry struck by rising taxes and fuel costs, the introduction of a supercar convertible costing £55K might have been expected to dent BMW M3 Convertible sales.
The new BMW M3 Convertible review may cost a fortune to buy and run but offers staggering performance and awesome handling. If you're one of the few that can still afford it, you'd be advised to consider the M3 drop-top.
New BMW M3 offered with two unique tuning packages from Hamann brings on 200mph performance for a whisker under £2k. Plus the price of a standard M3 of course.
The new four-door BMW M3 Saloon, priced at £49,415, is available to buy now mixing practicality with electrifying sports-car performance.
BMW has announced that it will launch a cabriolet version of the M3, available with 414bhp 4-litre V8, seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and electronic folding roof. Prices are expected to be in excess of £50K.
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