BMW M3: now the supercar is a saloon
- Saloon version of M3 released
- Power from same 414bhp V8 engine
- Few parts shared with regular 3 Series
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BMW has built a saloon version of its new M3, just a month after the all-new coupe version went on sale.
The car shares the same 414bhp V8 petrol engine as the M3 coupe, propelling the saloon to 62mph in 4.9sec - just 0.1sec slower than the coupe - and on to a limited top speed of 155mph.
BMW says the car offers buyers the M3 coupe's exhilarating performance, but with added practicality.
However, few of the parts in the M3 saloon have come from the standard car - apart from the load-bearing parts of the car, only the doors, roof, boot lid, windows and rear lights are shared with the regular 3 Series.
Everything else has been re-engineered to minimise weight and maximise output.
Although the saloon doesn't have the carbonfibre roof that the coupe does, many of its other exterior features are shared - the 'powerdome' in the bonnet, for example, as well as the rear air dam and side air vents.
Inside, the same double-dial instruments, leather steering wheel, centre console and design themes are carried over from the coupe.
Nothing has yet been confirmed about prices or on-sale dates, but BMW sources reckon we could see the car next spring. With saloon prices generally cheaper than the coupe, prices could be a little cheaper than the coupe's £50,625.
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