It’s the monday back to work the day after the Super Bowl…what better time to enjoy what is arguably the sexiest M3 BMW has ever produced; the E92 Coupé.
Packing a 4L V8 with 414bhp and 295lb·ft of torque the E92 M3 is capable of sprinting 0-60mph in just under 4 seconds. (1920x1200)
Similar to the previous M3 generations that introduced a new engine, the fourth generation M3 did the same: the BMW S65 engine. The S65B40 is a naturally aspirated, high-revving 4-litre V8 that is based on the 5-litre S85B50 V10 that powered the E60/E61 M5 and the E63/E64 M6. It delivers 414bhp at 8300 rpm, with peak torque of 295 lb·ft at 3900 rpm, which represents a power increase of 22% over the E46 M3. The engine weighs 33 lbs less than the outgoing six-cylinder for a total weight of 450 lbs. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. As from April 2008, BMW offers a new seven speed Getrag double-clutch gearbox, called M-DKG (Doppel-Kupplungs-Getriebe) or M-DCT (Double Clutch Transmission) as an option, which reduces shift pauses to less than a tenth of a second and shortens the car’s 0-60mph sprint time by 0.2 seconds vs. manual. It features both automatic and manual modes similar to the SMGgearboxes in the E36 and E46, but with more speed and efficiency.
The E92 M3 coupe inherited a carbon-fiber roof similar to the one used on the E46 CSL. For 2009, the E9x M3 received the same revisions as non-M 3 series models. Those changes included revised front and rear bumpers, and LED tail lights. Recent testing has shown that the 2011 M3 equipped with an M-DCT transmission accelerated from 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds and went on to record a 12.4 second quarter mile time.This is almost half a second quicker than 2008–2010 M3 models with the same engine and transmission.
A native of Tampa, FL Robert is the presiding editor and co-owner of both Down Shift Magazine and DS Holdings, LLC. A proud alumnus of the University of South Florida’s class of 2005 Robert is active in the Tampa Bay community and when not residing at his home in Tampa, FL enjoys traveling throughout the United States and abroad covering the motorsports and cultural phenomenon that shape our modern automotive enthusiast community.
