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| The final M3 E92 |
July 2013 marks the end of the production of the BMW M3 E92 Coupe and yes, this is the last ever M3 coupe they'll ever made and this is the last ever M model to be naturally aspirated. Yes, this is the last M3 Coupe they'll ever made ever since the announcement that BMW's new naming scheme will had sedans bearing odd numbers while 2-door coupes bearing even numbers.
Yes, there will be a new M3 next year except now, it's a 4-door model based on the F30 3-Series while the replacement for this will be based on the all new 4-Series Coupe and they'll come sometime in the not too distant future.
A quick history lesson about the M3 Coupes:
E30
The story of the BMW M3 begins in the E30 model. The first BMW M3 comes with the S14B23 2.3L engine, which was based on various BMW parts: basic block layout from the M10 4-cylinder (found in the 2002 and 320 series) overbored and reinforced to similar specifications of the BMW M88 inline-6.
Richard Hammond drove this as well as the E34 M5 while James May is in the BMW M1 in Season 3 Episode 2 of Top Gear when they were at the Isle of Man.
E36
Based on the E36 3-Series model, this M3 comes with a 3.0L straight-6 engine that generates 280HP of power. During its lifespan, this model spawned not just a coupe but a cabriolet and a 4-door saloon respectively and when production of this generation ended in 1999, 46,525 coupés, 12,114 Cabriolets and 12,603 saloons were produced.
Most of the E36 M3 models were made at BMW's Regensburg plant while detuned right hand drive models where assembled in Pretoria, South Africa.
There were six special-edition models of the E36 M3 produced: the M3 Euro-Spec (Canadian Edition), M3 LTW, M3 GT, M3 GT-R, M3-R, and the Imola Individual (often referred to as the GT2) (the last of the E36s). There's also an M3 Anniversary Edition for the Australian market in 1999.
Car & Driver said that the E36 M3 is one of the best handling cars of the 90's because of its benign handling and balance and popular among circuit racers and track enthusiasts.
E46
Launched in 2000, the E46 M3 comes with the 3.2L DOHC straight-6 engine and it was based on the E46 3-Series that underwent a full model change in 1998. This 3.2L I6 engine churns out 338HP of power and 269ft-lb of torque. Initially, this generation was mated with a Getrag 6-speed MT but later, BMW added an SMG II, the company's double clutch semi-automatic transmission.
"The suspension must always be faster than the engine", this is the motto BMW followed in developing the E46 M3 and the suspension was returned to compensate for the added power of the M3.
E92
The E92 M3 is measured about 4620mm long, 1805mm wide and 1425mm high, and rode on a 2760mm wheelbase. For the E92 M3, there was an unsuspecting twist because the engine that powers it was a 4.0L V8 engine that develops 414HP of power. Also, BMW managed to trim down the M3's weight a little by installing new components such as a high-strength carbon fiber roof, and aluminum for the suspension parts, resulting to a lean 1630kg of weight.
The E92 M3 comes with a 7-speed M DCT drive logic, Variable M differential lock, and M dynamic mode. The M Drive in the dynamic mode is a device that provides combined control of suspension, dampers, DSC, Traction Control, engine output, and power steering response.
In Series 10 finale of Top Gear, Richard Hammond drove the M3 E92 while Jeremy Clarkson's in the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and James May's in an Audi RS4 at the Ascari Race Resort in Spain. Judging to the point that the M3 is quicker than the C63 and the RS4 when handed to the Stig round the Ascari track, the E92 M3 exceeded the danger limit of Jeremy Clarkson's COCK-O-METER. At the end of Series 10, when presenters swapped cars, Jeremy Clarkson dressed himself as a typical BMW driver before driving Hammond's M3.
In Series 11 opener of Top Gear, after the One Gallon Mile Race, which proven to be a stupid idea, Jeremy Clarkson drives the BMW M3 against the Toyota Prius, 10 laps at the Top Gear Test Track, but instead of racing, Jeremy figures out the M3's fuel consumption. After 10 laps, the Toyota Prius did 17.2MPG while the M3 did 19.4MPG.
In Jeremy Clarkson's 2009 DVD, Duel, the E92 M3 was known to be one of the best drifting cars but it failed at the Apple at the Apex, Apple at the Exit test. This is the car when Clarkson motivates Anthony Davidson to drift...
Story: http://www.carscoops.com/2013/07/last-bmw-m3-coupe-rolls-off-production.html
