Last BMW M3 Coupe produced
Posted 5th July, 2013 in BMW | Leave a comment
Today marks the end of an era with BMW announcing that its last fourth generation M3 Coupe has rolled off the production line.
With the M3 Cabriolet due to end its life in September, the designation will live on with the M3 Saloon, but the E92 and E93 M cars have been put to sleep – like a litter of unwanted Labrador puppies – in favour of the forthcoming M4 Coupe and Cabriolets, which are due to hit showrooms in 2014. The company also hinted that an M4 DTM car may appear as soon as next season.
BMW is likely to drop the 309 kW (420 hp) V8 engine currently powering the M3, with propulsion expected to come from a twin-turbocharged straight-six (developing around 331 kW/444 hp), which will be mated to either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual.
Since its launch in 2007, BMW has produced over 40,000 units of the M3 Coupe, almost 10,000 Saloons and just under 16,000 Cabriolets, with many different special editions helping to make those numbers up, including the lightweight M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology) Saloon, the 331 kW (450 hp) 4.4-litre M3 GTS and the recent M3 DTM Champion Edition, which was created to mark BMW’s triumphant return to the DTM series last year.
[Source: BMW]
