A new saloon version of the new M3 has been built by BMW, just one month after the draw dropping coupe version was launched in the UK .
According to the German car giant, the new model shares the same 414bhp V8 petrol engine used in the M3 coupe, which helps the car reach 62mph in 4.9sec – making it just 0.1sec slower than the coupe . The saloon also has a limited top speed of 155mph.
BMW states that the car is designed to offer buyers a car which combines exhilarating M3 performance 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 vehicle, only the doors, windows, boot lid and rear lights are shared with the regular 3 Series .
As for exterior features, the new saloon includes the 'powerdome' in the bonnet as well as the side air vents and the rear air dam based in the coupe, although it misses out in the carbonfibre roof.
All the remaining features of the car have been specially re-engineered in an effort to minimise weight and maximise the saloon’s output.
The car’s interior includes the same double-dial instruments, leather steering wheel, centre console and design themes from the coupe edition.
BMW are yet to confirm prices or on-sale dates for the car, although inside sources have suggested that the car could be on British roads by spring 2008 and that prices should be a little cheaper than the coupe’s £50,625.
