Thursday, January 15, 2009

BMW "Changes the Game"

After a year of absence in the market, BMW is set to once again set the bar for performance in the coupe segment. According to the company,The M3 coupe is based on the BMW 3 Series coupe but its similarity is only limited to the design cues used on the doors, trunk lid, and the fuel-filler cap. Aside from those body parts, the M3 is a unique pure driving machine. Sleek styling cues include the bulge on the hood - a sign of bold styling that BMW is known for. Its grille is easily recognizable as a BMW and below it are side intakes with side ventilation gills. These style cues not only increase the aesthetic value of the coupe but they also increase the flow of needed air from the surroundings to the engine. while other companies change the grille configuration of their auto models, they have improved the M3 coupe not only on the outside and inside but also under the hood with the class-leading 414 horsepower V8 engine.Compared to the previously employed engine by the BMW M3 Coupe, the new one weighs 30 lbs. less. When compared to the 5.0-liter V8 engine used by the M5, the M3 Coupe's new engine weighs 100 lbs. less. This lower weight further increases the agility of the M3 much like the effect of the carbon fiber has on the nimbleness of the coupe. For the new generation of the M3 Coupe, a new suspension setting is composed of parts made out of strong but lightweight aluminum. For the front, the M3 uses a strut suspension setting while on the rear it employs a five-arm rear suspension setting. Both the front and the rear suspension configuration feature anti-roll bars which improves the stability of the coupe even on tight cornering.The engine is equipped with eight individual throttle butterfly valves and double VANOS technology. This gives the engine a better response to the demand for power by the driver.The coupe is offered with the Electronic Damper Control which allows the driver to control the ride configuration. The option has three settings namely Normal, Comfort, and Sport. The coupe is also equipped with the Servotronic power steering which can be configured to the Sport setting from Normal. With these wide ranges of settings, a driver can save his or her preferences and activate it when behind the wheel by simply pushing a button.

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