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Sunday, November 11, 2007
Dimensionally, Sedan and Coupe Are Almost Twins
As mentioned above, the dimensions of the M3 sedan are pretty much identical to those of the coupe, including wheelbase, height, and width. BMW’s figures for the sedan’s length are actually slightly shorter than those published earlier for the coupe (180.3 inches vs 181.7 inches), but perhaps this is due to bad arithmetic rather than actual dimensional variances.
The M3 coupe's most recognizable visual cue, its woven black carbon-fiber roof, doesn't carry over to the M3 sedan. Other than that, the primary difference between the two models is clearly the roofline and body-side stamping—the things that provide the car with four-door architecture. Apart from the doors, the roof, the luggage compartment lid, the windows, and the rear lights—all of which come directly from the regular 3-series sedan—the M3 sedan’s bodywork looks to have been carried over directly from the M3 coupe (with the obvious exception of the four door panels).
That includes the bulging hood with its functional intake vent, the flared front fender panels, even the addition of what BMW calls a Gurney flap on the trailing edge of the trunk lid. Also mimicking the coupe, the M3 sedan has low-profile, 40-series high-performance 18-inch (19s are optional) Michelin Pilot PS2 rubber all around, with 14-inch composite brake rotors visible through a split-spoke alloy wheel design.
As in the coupe, the car’s suspension benefits from the extensive use of aluminum, and the same variable M-differential lock system optimizes rear drive-wheel grip. And just as in the coupe, BMW’s electronic damper control system—featuring three selectable control maps—is offered as an option in the sedan.
As mentioned above, the dimensions of the M3 sedan are pretty much identical to those of the coupe, including wheelbase, height, and width. BMW’s figures for the sedan’s length are actually slightly shorter than those published earlier for the coupe (180.3 inches vs 181.7 inches), but perhaps this is due to bad arithmetic rather than actual dimensional variances.
The M3 coupe's most recognizable visual cue, its woven black carbon-fiber roof, doesn't carry over to the M3 sedan. Other than that, the primary difference between the two models is clearly the roofline and body-side stamping—the things that provide the car with four-door architecture. Apart from the doors, the roof, the luggage compartment lid, the windows, and the rear lights—all of which come directly from the regular 3-series sedan—the M3 sedan’s bodywork looks to have been carried over directly from the M3 coupe (with the obvious exception of the four door panels).
That includes the bulging hood with its functional intake vent, the flared front fender panels, even the addition of what BMW calls a Gurney flap on the trailing edge of the trunk lid. Also mimicking the coupe, the M3 sedan has low-profile, 40-series high-performance 18-inch (19s are optional) Michelin Pilot PS2 rubber all around, with 14-inch composite brake rotors visible through a split-spoke alloy wheel design.
As in the coupe, the car’s suspension benefits from the extensive use of aluminum, and the same variable M-differential lock system optimizes rear drive-wheel grip. And just as in the coupe, BMW’s electronic damper control system—featuring three selectable control maps—is offered as an option in the sedan.
Labels: Automobiles Reviews
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