| BMW and Mercedes are locked in a pitched battle for | | | | automotive industry surveys. |
| the right to call themselves the top luxury | | | | For BMW, its latest automotive project has been a |
| automotive brand in the world. With Lexus making | | | | closely guarded secret until very recently. |
| inroads, neither make can afford a misstep. For | | | | Camouflaged spy shots of the all new BMW M3 have |
| BMW, part of their future fortunes will rest on | | | | been circulating on the internet for some time now |
| models such as the soon to be released BMW M3. | | | | but only since June has a pre-production version of a |
| Intrigued? Please continue reading for an overview of | | | | fully unclothed BMW M3 been spotted. It was seen |
| this race inspired compact car. | | | | navigating the twisting roads of Southern California |
| German premier automotive maker BMW continues | | | | according to The Car Connection, the vehicle |
| to maintain its hold as the top selling luxury auto | | | | information and shopping site. |
| brand in the world. Battling with archrival | | | | For BMW enthusiasts, news of a BMW M3 |
| Mercedes-Benz year in and year out for the highest | | | | pre-production sighting means one thing: BMW will |
| laurels, BMW continues to constantly tweak its | | | | soon announce the date in 2007 when its latest M |
| existing line and add new vehicles to its line in a bid to | | | | Series car will be available in dealer showrooms. |
| stimulate and strengthen customer interest. One area | | | | Right now, the current BMW M3 is still based on the |
| where BMW has found much of its recent success is | | | | fourth generation 3 Series which was replaced in |
| with its race car inspired line of vehicles, the M Series. | | | | 2006. The new BMW M3 will be based on the latest |
| Since 1979 various Motorsports [M} tags have been | | | | generation body frame and feature some notable |
| affixed to vehicles that have been developed by the | | | | improvements over the previous BMW M3 model |
| BMW Motorsports division, including the BMW M3 a | | | | including: |
| car based on BMW's popular 3 Series. Today, BMW | | | | A larger, more potent V8 engine with an output of |
| engineers are hard at work on developing an all new | | | | 400 horses. Currently, the BMW M3 features an inline |
| BMW M3 and, if all of the auto buzz is correct, very | | | | six engine with a 333 horsepower output. The new |
| few cars will be able to keep up with this 400 hp | | | | model is expected to rocket from start to 60 in |
| road commander. Please keep reading for a closer | | | | under 5 seconds, topping out at 155 mph. |
| look at the all new, soon to be released, BMW M3. | | | | A six or possibly seven speed manual transmission. |
| A pitched battle in autodom continues to gather | | | | A longer wheelbase for better weight distribution. |
| force pitting German automaker against German | | | | Styling cues from the BMW M3 will find its way to |
| automaker. Legendary Mercedes-Benz is taking on | | | | the new model from front wing vents to twin exit |
| heralded BMW for the right to call themselves the | | | | exhausts along with the ubiquitous M series |
| top selling luxury brand in the world. For years, the | | | | recognized emblems. |
| honor belonged exclusively to Mercedes-Benz, but a | | | | For Mercedes enthusiasts they can point to the soon |
| recent stumble on Mercedes' part coupled with a | | | | to be released 2007 C Class, which is the direct |
| surge of new products from BMW has placed BMW | | | | competitor for the BMW 3 Series, as evidence that |
| in first place. Not far behind the two is Lexus, the | | | | DaimlerChrysler will not let BMW out of its crosshairs |
| luxury division of Toyota, but for now the battle | | | | anytime soon. A new AMG [motorsport] version of |
| remains a fight between these two German | | | | the C Class will follow, ratcheting up what is certain |
| automakers. | | | | to a pitched battle to be enjoyed by compact luxury |
| For luxury car enthusiasts, the BMW-Mercedes rivalry | | | | car devotees worldwide. |
| has been a win-win battle as both automakers have | | | | Additional competitors to the BMW M3 include the |
| been pouring engineering funds into their vehicles. | | | | Cadillac CTS-V, the Audi RS4, and the Lexus IS. |
| Neither automaker is resting on their past | | | | Prices have not been set for the new M3, but they |
| achievements; instead both are pressing forward to | | | | can be expected to top out at around $60,000 fully |
| add the latest safety features including Mercedes' | | | | equipped. |
| Night Vision Assist and BMW's impact absorbing | | | | Copyright 2006 -- Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance |
| bumpers which absorb stronger impacts without | | | | automotive writer covering classic, current, and |
| damaging the vehicle's main body. Safety is one of | | | | future models for All About Bimmers. You can find |
| the chief concerns for consumers when selecting a | | | | quality BMW M3 and BMW M5 SAV parts and |
| particular luxury brand according to all of the leading | | | | accessories at the All About Bimmers shop. |