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First drive: BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.

First drive: BMW M3 CRT
An M3 turned up to 11, the BMW M3 CRT might just be the most fantastic M3 saloon to date.

   



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| First Drive | Nürburgring, Germany | BMW M3 CRT |

Overall rating: 5 5 5 5 5

After spending all that time developing a new carbon fibre process for its forthcoming i3 and i8 cars it seemed a shame not to make use of the technology elsewhere. The result is the M3 Carbon Racing Technology you see here - an M3 saloon that promises to be more hardcore, more responsive and a whole lot more fun.

Key Facts

Model tested: BMW M3 CRT
Pricing: was €130,000 (about £104,500), but no longer available
Engine: 4.4-litre V8, petrol
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body style: four-door saloon
Rivals: Audi RS 4, Lexus IS F, Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG
CO2 emissions: 295g/km
Economy: 22.1mpg
Top speed: 180mph (limited)
0-62mph: 4.4 seconds
Power: 450hp at 8,300rpm
Torque: 439Nm at 3,750rpm
Weight: 1,580kg

In the Metal: 4 4 4 4 4

It's a four-door only this M3, so if you want a Coupé or Convertible M3 then you'll have to settle for one of the other models. Called the CRT, the inclusion of a carbon fibre bonnet (painted) is of no surprise - the Melbourne Red details in the wing vents may be however. But unsubtle flashes of colour aside, the silver paint, carbon weave accents and dark alloy wheels mark this M3 out as something special.

The red theme continues inside, starting off with the sill kick plates but also manifesting itself on the door cards and the seats. Ah yes, the seats - fixed back buckets with carbon shells - look uncomfortably thin. The good news is they're not. Otherwise there's an Alcantara steering wheel, the standard M-DCT transmission, more red detailing and a small plaque above the glove box informing you which of the 67 CRT models made you own.

Driving it: 5 5 5 5 5

The regular BMW M3 isn't exactly lacking in ability, but the M3 CRT is without doubt the sharpest version we've driven, and from the off you can tell this car has raised the bar up a notch. Fire up the 4.4-litre V8 engine and you'll instantly notice the extra bark through the exhaust's titanium silencers, even at idle.

Blip the throttle and the revs rise sharply, the noise louder than you'd expect thanks to this car's loss of sound deadening material, and the car feels more urgent in its response. Accelerate hard up to the heady red-line and it makes a glorious noise while head-butting the horizon up front - the extra horsepower (it has the 450hp engine from the M3 GTS) really is that noticeable. Some might prefer the idea of a proper manual gearbox, but in reality the standard M-DCT seven-speed dual-clutch system is smooth enough, and the speed of shifts can be altered with the transmission tunnel rocker switch.

The news continues to get better as well, with adjustable coilovers present it's possible to set the CRT up exactly as you'd like it, whether for occasional track use or a life on the road. You can still feel this car's 1,580kg kerb weight (45kg lighter than a regular M3 saloon thanks to that carbon) but there's little body roll and turn in is sharper and with less understeer at the limit.

Even under braking on track, a traditional weak spot for BMW M cars, the uprated brake lines, pads and 378mm discs haul it down to apex-kissing speeds without complaint. And if you want to make the car dance through a turn, with 450hp at your disposal, lurid power slides are easily snatched.

What you get for your Money: 4 4 4 4 4

This is probably a bit of a moot point, as all CRTs have already been sold - for €130,000 each (or about £104,500), but despite the rather extreme price tag it could be argued the CRT offers terrific value for money. For a start it's part of a very limited run, the 67 cars being distributed worldwide, and it comes with a host of extra kit as standard.

All come with the Professional Navigation system, uprated audio and parking sensors as well as the aforementioned adjustable coilovers, new exhaust, more powerful engine and uprated brakes. There's Frozen Polar Silver paint, those seats and carbon fibre parts too.

Worth Noting

The CRT actually came about due to the firm's forthcoming electric i3 and i8 models; the carbon fibre used for those car's body panels has been specially developed and constructed at a new facility in the US. Not wanting to waste its new materials BMW has given us this lightweight M3, the carbon fibre weave used in the seats, bonnet, wing and front air dam help to contribute to a kerb weight 45kg less than a comparable M3 saloon's.

Summary

We've never been ones to complain about the standard BMW M3, but the CRT feels much more raw and exciting - and all the better for it. Despite the saloon-only body, this is without doubt the best and most appealing M3 the firm has made so far, the extra horsepower, noise and handling capabilities elevating it to a deserved special status. We only wish it had been made available to the UK...


Graeme Lambert - 15 Nov 2012



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2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 

2012 BMW M3 CRT. Image by BMW.
 






 

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