Automobile manufacturers have a variety of in-house performance tuner models for those who value race-car performance in their daily drivers: Mercedes-Benz has AMG, Chrysler has SRT, Cadillac has its models,Audi has its S series, Lexus has its F line. But one letter stands above the rest in this alphabet soup of speedIt stands for Motorsport, in particular, BMW Motorsport. Its initial product, the M3, was created in 1986 as a road-going variant to qualify for participation in motorsports. It first crossed the pond in 1988The initial M had a 192-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine; that's not much more than some current economy cars. By contrast, the fourth-generation 2011 M3 Coupe has more than double the first M's power, with a 414-horsepower V8 engine. That's enough moxie to move this 3,704 pound coupe to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds with the seven-speed dual clutch transmission, or 4.7 seconds with the six-speed manual transmission, according to BMW.Needless tothis past week found me frequently checking my rearview mirror for any signs of flashing blue lights. Now, you can get an M3 as a coupe, sedan or convertible. For test purposes, BMW of North America provided a coupe for a week of driving.Having sampled a variety of M models at BMW's track in Spartanburg I can tell you that not only is the M3 still the pick of the litter, many automakers have come close to matching BMW's M line-up, but no one has matched it. This may sound as if I have had too many swigs of marketingBut the reality is that the M3 isn't a car you climb into and drive; it's one that you strap on and prepare for battle. It's so finely tuned, it's as if it's an extension of your central nervous system. It looks the part, with flared fenders, meaty 19-inch wheels and a massive, bulging hood. Consider it a sport coupe in a compression T-shirt. It certainly has the muscle to back it up., the car offers a new option, a $2,500 competition package. That money buys a suspension that's been lowered 10 mm, 19-inch wheels with greater offset for track work and reprogrammed electronic nannies (that would be the stability control and the electronic damping system). The test coupe supplied by BMW had the package, and it was well worth the extra scratch. For those trained in the art of performance driving, the M3 is four-wheeled nirvana, a wickedly quick, amazingly adept athlete that waltzes across blacktop like the star athlete that it is. If it were human, it be drawing a salary of $40 million easy. longtime aficionados know how well BMW tunes a car. But nothing prepares you for how well until you sample the new M3, especially with the new dual-clutch transmission and the competition package. The optional gearbox uses the gearset of a manual transmission, but has two clutches - one for odd gears, the other for even gears. So, if you're accelerating in first gear, the transmission pre-selects second gear, sothat when you shift, there's no interruption in power. There's no clutch pedal. A paddle mounted behind thesteering wheel on the right side upshifts, a paddle on the left
In a traditional manual transmission, one gear must be disengaged before the next one can engaged. This moment where the car isn't in any gear means that for that brief bit of time, you're losing power. This is the jolt felt when shifting manually.
The dual clutch's ability to pre-select the next gear, either up or down, allows power to flow uninterrupted. You can keep the throttle floored while shifting. On the track, it works like a charm.
Rev it to the car's 8,300 rpm red line, yank the right hand paddle and bang through the gears. Listen to the car's eight-cylinder symphony, as it cries out a wail that's as intoxicating as its speed. Watch as the scenery blows by in a blur. And, if you should happen to reach a corner, this car can be made to pivot easily through judicious use of the pedals Induce some oversteer. Power through the corner. look like a better driver than you actually are is a whole suite of electronic goodies, includingwhich prevents the car from rolling backward when staring off on a hill, and "Cornering" which prevents the car from spinning out of control if the brakes are applied while cornering.In addition, there's a suite of other controls that's included in the optional technology also includes keyless entry and a navigation system.
In a traditional manual transmission, one gear must be disengaged before the next one can engaged. This moment where the car isn't in any gear means that for that brief bit of time, you're losing power. This is the jolt felt when shifting manually.
The dual clutch's ability to pre-select the next gear, either up or down, allows power to flow uninterrupted. You can keep the throttle floored while shifting. On the track, it works like a charm.
Rev it to the car's 8,300 rpm red line, yank the right hand paddle and bang through the gears. Listen to the car's eight-cylinder symphony, as it cries out a wail that's as intoxicating as its speed. Watch as the scenery blows by in a blur. And, if you should happen to reach a corner, this car can be made to pivot easily through judicious use of the pedals Induce some oversteer. Power through the corner. look like a better driver than you actually are is a whole suite of electronic goodies, includingwhich prevents the car from rolling backward when staring off on a hill, and "Cornering" which prevents the car from spinning out of control if the brakes are applied while cornering.In addition, there's a suite of other controls that's included in the optional technology also includes keyless entry and a navigation system.
No comments:
Post a Comment