414-hp for the Whole Family: M3 Sedan

From the very start the BMW M3 has been the do-it-all sports car, specifically the current and the previous generation. Here is a smallish, fairly affordable vehicle that’s brilliant off the line, while cornering and simply out-doing the competition. It is a car that’s been compared to Porsche’s 911, various Corvettes and used as a benchmark to judge all sorts of exotica. And many a time, when compared to the ultra-expensive and ultra-exclusive competitors from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, the M-Division’s special 3 still puts up a better fight than most. But there’s been a little something missing. While BMW stretched out the range to include a drop top convertible in addition to the conventional coupe, since the days of the E36, the M3 nameplate has been missing the sedan.

The idea of the M3 sedan is as simple as it sounds. Take everything that’s wonderful about the new M3 – the powerful 414-hp V8, the slick gearbox, the clever active differential – and package it into a body that makes entry and exit for rear passengers easier. Quite a bit of work went into making the M3 Sedan, as everything but the trunk lid, the doors and the main frame of the car are new or heavily remade. Looking at the nose of the car, there’s more in common with the M3 Coupe than there is with the regular 3-Series sedan. With the 3-Series being one of the most popular compact premium luxury cars on the international market, the M3 sedan will become one of this decade’s great stealth machines.

Mechanically, the M3 sedan and the M3 coupe are identical with no changes in engine or six-speed manual transmission. There aren’t any sudden surprises with this announcement such as the availability of an automatic transmission or the long-awaited twin-clutch transmission. Reportedly a self-shifting unit is on the way, which should be confirmed by BMW in the not too distant future.

There are a couple of unique points to add about the M3 sedan, however. Firstly, it’s heavier than the coupe version, but not by much. The weight gains, which amount to less than 110 lbs, include the need for a pair of opening rear doors and a rear bench that can accommodate three passengers and not just two. The other thing is that the roof of the sedan isn’t made out of carbon fiber; it’s steel, and shared in common with the regular 3-Series sedan.

Inside, BMW has gone through lengths to make the M3 sedan as luxurious as possible. The leather-trimmed seats are matched by a leather-trimmed dashboard. There’s also a mighty powerful sound system to back up the V8’s wonderful soundtrack. With the coupe and sedan bases covered, and the folding hardtop convertible version supposedly on the way, the only thing we can think of that would truly round out the M3 lineup is a wagon version. We can only dream …