2016 marks the 30th anniversary of automotive icons, one that revolutionized the sport sedan segment when production began in 1986. The first BMW M3 sets a new standard that other automakers will be measured and five model generations later, is still considered today.
BMW Motorsport Division, the precursor to the BMW M Division, is very strict in its distribution of pure racing motorcycle technology in the development of first-generation BMW M3. businesses that produce high-performance sports sedan race that is based on the BMW 3 Series is suitable for everyday use. In the three decades that have followed, BMW M has been refined with soft trailblazing and highly successful creation from one generation to the next, while always taking care to preserve the original character of the M3. The result is that there is arguably still no other car that combines gene clearly hone motor sport and everyday practicality without compromise in the overall package as emotionally stirring.
The 30th anniversary of the BMW M3 provides an ideal opportunity to look back at the four model variants is very interesting that, for various reasons, never made it past the prototype stage. Therefore four surprise guests will attend a birthday party of their ancestors: BMW M3 Pickup of 1986, BMW M3 Compact of 1996, BMW M3 Touring from 2000 and the second incarnation of the BMW M3 Pickup inaugurated in 2011.
BMW M3 does not attempt to produce a sport featured for various models generated volume; but from the idea of developing a racing car for motor sport that will also be available in a road-going version. Categories racing is a Group A touring production car - as seen in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), which has managed the German Racing Championship (DRM). Group A regulations state that for a homologated race car for at least 5,000 street-legal units must be sold within 12 months.
Having the opportunity to develop production and race version of the car next to one another are presented the development team with an extraordinary opportunity, they should utilize. Axle kinematics, suspension and damping are all perfectly adapted to the demands of the future of motor racing, such as braking systems, combined with standard ABS brakes with inner-vented discs in front and high pressure pump-driven machine. Details such as the transmission with gear shifting pattern at the bottom of the left also gives a clear indication of a single focus on racing vehicles.
On top of this comes the steps extensive weight saving. While the body with wide wheel arches are manufactured from sheet metal in a traditional way, front and rear bumpers with side skirts, boot lid and spoiler made of plastic, which reflects the commitment of the engineers' to intelligent lightweight construction. Experts BMW Motorsport also tweaked the car's aerodynamics, the C-pillar of the BMW M3 following a slightly shallower angle than the standard body and has a broader base. This allows the airflow to be directed more effectively distinctive rear spoiler.
Experts in the department of Motorsport uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mounted on the series-production models as the basis for the M3 unit, such as low weight construction and high-revving capability which meant it was exactly the right material for a racing engine. To change your everyday machine mannered become athletic player with sports car credentials, however, they must be subject to some intensive electrical therapy.
First, they increase the displacement to 2.3 liters and converted to four-valve arrangement. To this end, the team employs a modified cylinder head is taken from the corresponding six-cylinder engine featured in the BMW M1, the combustion chamber - quite comfortable - spaced exactly the same distance apart with the four-cylinder unit. Crank drive the BMW M3 is designed to be so rigid that it could handle 10,000 revolutions per minute and more. rated engine speed standard production cars from 6750 rpm for leave much margin for further evolution of motor sport off-shoot.
When the first generation of the BMW M3 was taken, it's not just customers who are fascinated by the outstanding dynamic ability. It also caused quite a stir in the BMW Motorsport department responsible for the development, which sees it as the perfect way to transport equipment and parts around what is now the BMW M Division in Garching near Munich. The only problem is that the transportation of goods are not looking for very high on the list of many talents first BMW M3.
It did not take long to remedy the situation, the body of a BMW 3 Series Convertible turns into BMW M3 Pickup. "The bodyshell convertible chosen as the basis for two reasons," recalls Polschak Jakob, head of building prototype vehicles and workshops at BMW M Division and an employee at the company for more than 40 years. "First, we are going to have such a model we have and in perfect condition. And second, convertible built-in bracing makes it an ideal choice for the conversion of a pickup."
The first BMW M3 Pickup is not native boldly flared wing sport, because it comes with the usual narrow body, his brother volumes produced. Initially powered by the engine installed in the so-called "Italian M3", which has a 2.0-liter displacement is reduced because the tax rules there and output 192 horsepower. "Then we switched to 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower original," reveals Polschak. BMW M3 Pickup go about your work throughout the plant site reliably for over 26 years before retiring four years ago.
The same is also true of the 1996 BMW M3 Compact, of course. The idea behind this model is to present younger customers, in particular, with the entry point into the world of BMW M. "To a certain extent, M3 Compact can be considered as the ancestor of today's BMW M2," commented the head of BMW M with a twinkle workshop in the eyes, and it is easy to see why it draws comparisons. If you have entered into production, M3 engine power would most likely have been lowered slightly. In the prototype, however, it is allowed to release the full 321 horsepower, which makes easy work of pushing the car lighter.
BMW M3 Touring prototype is also manifested as a production model is under consideration. M3 Compact was made available to journalists for testing to both project the image and sound out the interest of the customer. But M3 Touring is presented entirely in-house purposes. "This prototype allows us to show that, from a purely technical standpoint at least, it is possible to integrate M3 Touring into sustainable production of standard BMW 3 Series Touring with very little trouble," said Jakob Polschak. "One important thing we need to show is that the back door of the standard production model can be reworked to fit the rear wheel arches without the need for new tools and expensive." Once it has passed through the assembly line, M3 Touring takes just a bit of manual work follow-up to match the M-specific add-on parts and interior detail, for example.
After the first generation of the BMW M3 Pickup described above finally starting to show signs of wear after the first serious about a quarter century of service, it's time for a replacement. Like the original, they are responsible for the creation of more opt for convertible body because the elements of the existing reinforcement. "The conversion work was originally took place in the ordinary, the way most of which are spectacular during the spring of 2011. But then someone came up with the idea of marketing the vehicle as an April Fool's joke, as of April 1 is just around the corner," recounts Polschak. To prime the public, spy shots calibration runs on the Nürburgring's Nordschleife circuit arise in the run-up to the day, served to fuel speculation about plans to build a production model.
And it worked. Reports from the time indicate that a good many journalists and bloggers took the bait and believe rumors. Even the official press release issued on April 1, 2011 did not immediately set things straight, first presenting Pickup BMW M3 as a "variant fourth body" follow Sedan, Coupe and Convertible, before going on to say: "420 horsepower under the hood and a payload capacity of 450 kilograms on the rear axle take a mixture of hallmark BMW model M 'racing-style driving pleasure and everyday practicality to a new level. "it also shows that the Cd is only slightly higher than the BMW M3 Coupe, the car 50 kilograms lighter than the 20-kilogram Convertible and a removable Targa roof to further lower the center of gravity and therefore provides sharper handling dynamics. "
Not until the last paragraph that the press release quietly reveals the model is actually a one-off built for use as a workshop transport vehicle. Unlike its predecessor, however, have also been allowed to use the road.
30 years ago almost to the day production began on the first series produced BMW m3. This is represented in the opening chapter of a success story that is unrivaled in the automotive world.
The current (fifth) generation BMW M3 was introduced in the spring of 2014. In accordance with the change in nomenclature for series-produced BMW models, only the four-door sedan badged "M3", while the coupe and convertible variants of the given model M4. In all three variants of the body, free-revving straight-six engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and 431 horsepower gives strength. Tighter intelligent lightweight design elements include extensive use of lightweight materials such as CFRP and aluminum for many chassis and body components. All that has shaved about 80 kilograms of weight of its predecessor.
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