The last naturally aspirated BMW M3 was launched in 2007 and it was fitted with a larger V8 engine that was, surprisingly, lighter than the former six-pot that replaced it. And that was better for sound, power, and handling.
The bump in the hood, the vents on the fenders, and the lowered suspension will tell the difference between the M3 and the rest of the E92 BMW models. It was built for a purpose, to play the role of a grand-tourer, a sports car, and a race-track weapon.
The E92 M3 was launched in 2007 with a six-speed manual and an 8-cylinder engine. It was received with mixed feelings by the purists who were still crying for the original, 1986, E30 M3. But since then, the engine was doubled in terms of displacement and number of cylinders. When compared to the E46 M3, the last with a naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine, the E92 was a heavier car. But that wasn't a real problem since it had a higher torque on the lower revs.
Inside, the car was designed to offer enough comfort and pleasure of driving. The sport-bucket seats, with leather upholstery, looked stylish and premium. A classic BMW instrument cluster was paired with an infotainment display placed high on the dashboard and with the i-Drive controller on the center console. For the rear seats, there was some room for passengers.
It was the technical progress that helped the E92 M3 to run faster, being faster on cornering, and drift better. New suspension, a standard limited-slip differential, and a lot of electronics helped the car to achieve better performances than the model it replaced.