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BMW M3 makes for a comfortable ride in a beast
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BMW M3 combines the animalistic power in a sports car with an aggressive appearance and a booming sound that makes you feel like you’re riding a beast — while staying in command. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)
P
eople may wonder how anyone could control 431 horses and make it look elegant. BMW has done just that, combining the animalistic power in a sports car with an aggressive appearance and a booming sound that makes you feel like you’re riding a beast — while staying in command.
That beast is the BMW M3. Launched at the Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers Association’s International Auto Show in early August, the sportive vehicle boasts a sturdy exterior that appears to be covered with muscles on all sides.
The latest version of this model has a number of new features, including improved headlights and taillights. In front, BMW’s twin-circular lights are enhanced with bi-LED lamps, daytime running lights with a dynamic design to create the silhouettes in the form of eyebrows typical of BMW.
The adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assistant technology enable efficient long-distance light distribution. Darker lamp casings on the headlights add to the clarity of detail while at the same time presenting the technical beauty of the components. At the rear, the revamped lamps accentuate the L-shape design characteristic of BMW.
The BMW M3 features a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof. This material is stronger than that of conventional roofs and also lighter, thus reducing the weight of the vehicle.
This newest model also sees a facelift in its exterior in the form of a broader rear fender. The wide fender with front and back grilles is meant to maximize the aerodynamics and stability of the car when running at high speed. This newest model also uses light alloy 19-inch BMW M double-spoke 437M wheel rims that are black, brushed and forged.
As a sports car focused on optimized aerodynamics, the BMW M3 may be forgiven for fairly low ground clearance at 119 millimeters. Therefore, driving around a housing complex with many speed bumps is less comfortable, because care should be taken by repeatedly pressing the brake pedal to avoid hitting ridges.
The car’s large size also requires extra care, and narrow branch roads should be avoided. But this big car is easy to park, as it is equipped with rear and front parking sensors and cameras. As for the trunk, the sensor is placed right underneath, so that it will automatically open by moving the foot in the space below. It’s a standard feature for luxury cars, but it seems less important for a sports car that will normally be racing down a freeway rather than carrying home groceries.
As soon as you enter the cabin and take a seat, you will notice the quality leather upholstery that adopts the semi-bucket model to ensure a high degree of comfort. Jet black steel ornaments dominate the interior, replacing the piano black elements in the previous model.
The increased presence of carbon ornaments adds to the sporty look, especially of the driver’s compartment. All panels are within easy reach from the side of the steering wheel. For entertainment, 16 loudspeakers of the Harman-Kardon hi-fi surround sound system are enough to indulge the musical passion of the driver and passengers.
The car’s engine roars like a beast, the sound coming from the tailpipe can also be heard in the cabin, but it’s not noisy. Racing car fans will enjoy it. When the gas pedal is pressed, the boom pleasantly resounds inside. The BMW M3 is fitted with an active sound feature that amplifies the tailpipe sound into the interior, thus boosting the driver’s adrenaline. That’s right, the car is built to speed.
The BMW M3 is powered by a 3,000-cc 6-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo engine, two turbochargers with Valvetronic, Double VANOS and High Precision Injection, capable of producing an output of 431 horsepower and a torque of 550 Nm. This power exceeds by 7 hp the earlier model and is chaneled to the rear propeller wheels through 7-speed M-double-clutch transmission.
Revving up on an expressway, it’s estimated to take about 4.1 seconds to get from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour, but the performance can slightly vary depending on the quality of the road. Interestingly, the BMW M3 comes with the M Laptimer application that can be connected with an iPhone. It presents various kinds of features, like the one-lap time record, which will enable you to record and save your speed if you are in a racing mood.
BMW puts the peak speed of this car at 250 km/h, and although it hasn’t been tested, it can be gauged whether or not it’s wasteful in fuel consumption. During a recent drive around Jakarta under varying road conditions — from congested to smooth traffic — from the outer ring road to BSD City in South Tangerang, in the sport and sport+ modes indicated a fuel efficiency of approximately 12 km per liter.
On routes with fast-moving traffic free from jams, this car should be able to save more fuel. What is certain is that the BMW M3’s fuel efficiency is improved by its auto-start-stop engine, switching the engine off when caught in a jam or halted by a traffic light. The sedan’s quality comes at a price: The BMW M3 is offered at Rp 1.88 billion (US$139,996) off the road.
Like a tame beast, this is a smart sports car still comfortable enough for office routines amid the muddle of Jakarta roads.
