exitcreative

So fresh and so clean. Thanks, Chris Bangle, for being a visionary even as others doubted you.

The new M3 was unveiled in the UK earlier this week. Somehow they’ve figured out how to stuff a 4-liter V8 in there, giving the car 420 horses and 400Nm of torque. Ridiculous. And get this… it gets 22.8mpg in everyday driving. That’s 8% better than the outgoing model. With a 26% increase in output. All through the use of lightweight componentry–including a composite roof formerly only available on the CSL model–and Brake Energy Regeneration (like the system they use on the Prius) to power the car’s electric parts with otherwise wasted energy. So when you slow down you power up. And that V8 is 33 pounds lighter than the V6 it’s replacing, thanks to F1 lineage. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.

Though official lap times on the Nurburgring Nordschleife have yet to be released…

Hopefully when it comes out in 2009 I’ll have enough money to get one.

Here’s some design candy for you.

That’s the lightweight carbon-fiber roof that helps the car be more efficient, while having a lower center of gravity for better driveability.

Sensible but still cool-looking 40-series Michelins.

Ahh, the joys of the already-pimped auto.