The BMW M3 Concept Car.

The BMW M3 Concept Car. Description in Brief.
2 The Vision of Ultimate Driving Pleasure: The BMW M3 Concept Car.
3 • Concept study of a BMW M3 by BMW M GmbH, dimensions and
fundamental form based on BMW 3 Series Coupé, exclusive new
engineering of almost every body element, purpose-built for
individualistic form and maximum sporting potential. • At the core
of this concept study is an M3-typical V8 engine tuned to the high
revving M concept. • Front design conveying a high performance
sports car, functional execution of the front apron and engine
compartment lid, a robust Powerdome and large air intakes that express
the vehicle's superior drive power, particularly voluminous air intakes
for ample air supply to the engine compartment through the elimination
of fog lamps, typical of M, and a front apron in a pronounced forward
position that symbolises the car's motoring spirit. • Sharply
defined wheel arches, gill-shaped openings in the front side walls with
an elaborate three-dimensional design typical of M cars, and chrome
brackets with integrated direction indicators.Characteristic M-brand
side skirts providing the side view with an energy-laden accent, visual
emphasis of the rear-wheel drive and car's wide track, 19-inch light
alloy rims with the characteristic Y-spoke design, exclusive exterior
mirrors with an aerodynamically optimised design. • Rear design
with horizontal lines accentuating the car's wide track, pronounced
wheel orientation as a symbol of its powerful stance, rear diffuser
that mirrors design elements of the front apron, balanced proportions
underlining the BMW M3's supremacy, M-typical double tailpipes arranged
toward the centre of the vehicle. • Intelligent lightweight
construction that directly influences the vehicle's agility and dynamic
performance, aluminium engine compartment lid. Side walls made of
synthetic material and CFRP roof that optimise weight distribution and
centre of gravity, visible CFRP roof construction as an additional
design element, emphasis of flat silhouette and high tech character of
the vehicle. The Vision of Ultimate Driving Pleasure: The BMW M3
Concept Car. Its very name is a symbol for unique performance on the
racetrack and in everyday traffic. For two decades, BMW M3 has embodied
the athletic heart of the brand in its most fundamental and succinct
form. Its dominating role in motor sports and the ultimate driving
experience it affords the driver on the road are inseparably
intertwined. The qualities on which this synthesis is founded have
given the BMW M3 the exceptional status it enjoys the world over. At
BMW M GmbH, engineers have persisted in continuing this success story
with the presentation of the new BMW M3 Concept Car. The concept study
being presented to the public for the first time at the 77th
International Motor Show in Geneva (8th to 18th of March, 2007) gives a
first impression of what a future BMW M3 might look like. The basic
form for the BMW M3 Concept Car is a derivative of the new BMW 3 Series
Coupé. The few components adopted directly from the series model
are the headlamps and taillamps and, as the only body elements, the two
doors and the luggage compartment lid. In all other respects, the BMW
M3 Concept Car, which is being presented in the Chrome Shadow finish
characteristic of BMW M GmbH concept studies, is obviously an
individualistic and athletic vehicle with technology at the focus of its
engineering. Individualistic body concept with emotional aesthetics. In
keeping with tradition, the engineers at BMW M GmbH developed the BMW M3
Concept Car as a fundamentally individualistic vehicle. The level of
commitment to this approach is clearly demonstrated by its body. While
it is based on the dimensions and the underlying form of the BMW 3
Series Coupé, virtually all body elements have been newly
developed and designed from the ground up. Apart from the supporting
vehicle structure, only the doors and the luggage compartment lid were
taken over from the series model. All other components were specially
engineered for the BMW M3 Concept Car, lending the vehicle exterior
unique aesthetics that accentuate its superior power. Unmistakable
features that make the BMW M3 Concept Car instantly recognisable are
the special trim at the front and rear, the engine compartment lid with
its bulging Powerdome and two air intakes, the lateral air slots in the
front side walls, the side skirts and the exterior mirrors in a BMW M
typical design. Front with additional air intakes, engine compartment
lid with Powerdome. Faithful to the principle of "form follows
function" in designing the body for the concept study, designers
at BMW M GmbH used elements that not only visually emphasise the
increased sportiness of the vehicle, but also serve a technical
purpose. Conspicuous at the front are three large air intakes below the
cooling grille that supply the engine with additional intake and
cooling air. Strong, vertical struts delineate the air intakes and
enhance their characteristic form. The aluminium engine compartment
lid exhibits a wide bulging curvature known as the Powerdome. Like the
air intakes beside it, the Powerdome suggests the great potential that
can be expected of a powerplant in the engine bay of a BMW M3. The M3
Concept Car features a high revving V8 engine that is anticipated for
the series car once it goes into production. The contours of the
Powerdome and air intakes are in line with the forward-pointing sweep
of the engine compartment lid and harmoniously blend into the overall
design of the front, which is longer than that of the BMW 3 Series
Coupé. Together with the double kidney grille typical of BMW and
the flat headlamp units, they lend the BMW M3 Concept Car a highly
dynamic character. Wheel arches and side skirts communicate agility
and stability. The muscular front wheel arches of the BMW M3 Concept Car
symbolise the high level of agility and driving stability achieved by
this vehicle.Together with the forged 19-inch light alloy rims in the
classic Y-spoke design, they emphasise the vehicle's wide track, while
a glance through the spokes of the rims reveals the compound high
performance brakes developed exclusively for M vehicles. The opening
behind the wheel arch on the front side wall, which the designers refer
to as gills, has an elaborate three-dimensional form that is split by a
discreet chrome bracket containing the direction indicator and the M3
logo. Two arched surfaces form the pronounced side skirt, creating a
purposefully designed contrast between light and shadow. By giving the
side wall a lower appearance, the side skirt lends the car a lighter,
sportier look from this angle. The incidence of light on the likewise
sharply defined rear wing and wheel stresses the dynamic character of
this vehicle and visually highlights its rear-wheel drive. The design
of the side skirt corresponds with the shape of the strongly pronounced
contour line. The play of light and shadow between the parallel
contours of the skirt and contour line brings about a tightness in
design that emphasises the individual character of the BMW M3 Concept
Car even more strongly. Exclusive exterior mirrors developed for the
BMW M3 Concept Car feature the characteristic black double foot that
reminds the viewer of the wings of an aircraft. Even this small detail
is in keeping with the principle of "form follows function".
With their horizontal contour line and tapered shape toward the
outside, the exterior mirrors not only contribute to the overall
impression of the vehicle, but their aerodynamic shape, optimised in a
wind tunnel, is advantageous to air resistance values. Wide track,
muscular stance - rear design emphasises dynamic performance. The rear
of the BMW M3 Concept Car picks up on the design of the car's front.
The side lines gradually sink toward the rear and the wings end in a
modelled hollow flute, emphasising the rear-wheel drive and visualising
the superior dynamics of this vehicle. From any angle, the rear creates
the impression of a pronounced wheel orientation and a muscular stance.
Its proportions lend it confidence and a calm yet powerful impression.
A visually discreet spoiler lip on the luggage compartment lid, also
called a Gurney flap, optimally channels the air at the rear and
additionally reduces lift on the rear axle. The contours of the
diffuser, whose design is subdivided by modelled struts, mirror the
shape of the air intakes at the front. The diffuser and the double
exhaust tailpipes positioned close to the vehicle's longitudinal axis
appear to pull the rear together at the centre and build up a tension
in conjunction with the horizontal lines of the bumper. The tailpipes
have a round cross section and are cut off vertically, as is typical
for BMW M GmbH engineering. Exclusive roof with visible carbon fibre
structure. There is hardly a body element in the BMW M3 Concept Car that
exhibits the level of advanced technology as clearly as the roof. It is
constructed of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). Specialists at
the BMW Plant in Landshut, Germany, rely on an exclusive production
method in which the structure of the Formula 1 material remains visible
and the finely structured surface is only coated with a layer of clear
finish. As a highly visible advanced technology component, the CFRP
roof dominates the technically innovative appearance of the BMW M3
Concept Car. Seen from the side, it lets the roof edge appear flatter
and thus lowers the perceived body height. Apart from the exclusive
appearance, the CFRP roof also offers a real technical advantage: It is
considerably lighter than a steel roof. This not only reduces the
overall vehicle weight, but by reducing the weight of the highest
element in the body, the centre of gravity is lowered as well. Thus,
the reduction in weight at this location is particularly beneficial to
the agility and dynamic performance of the vehicle. The CFRP roof is a
perfect example of how interlinking technical innovation with an
individual design strategy was central to the development of the BMW M3
Concept Car. Following the tradition of the previous three generations
of the BMW M3, this concept study represents a high performance sports
car interpreted for use in everyday diving, with its every detail being
yet another example of the objective pursued by the engineers. The BMW
M3 Concept Car is a vision that shows where striving for the ultimate
driving experience will take us in the future.