The brilliant thing about the M3 is that despite being a powerful brute machine it is also a very forgiving car. For instance, when I overshot the turn-in point for C5, all I had to do was just gently nudge those ceramic anchors and I was back on the proper line again without wandering anywhere near the outside kerb. C9 to C12 at Portimao allowed me to test the superior and ultra communicative steering of the M3. This series of corners start with a sweeping left then a right and a left again, finally ending with almost a hairpin bend. Here the electro-mechanical steering worked with such finesse that I was left speechless. It was doing precisely what I wanted it to do while letting me know what was happening at the front. All I did was just looked at the apex, pointed the wheel in its direction and the car held its line as if it were on rail tracks. The steering is great, but the tyres on the M3, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport, which were developed by Michelin and BMW together, are super sticky even on wet surfaces.
BMW M Division has invested a lot of time and energy in making the fifth-generation M3: a car that looks slightly more aggressive than a normal 3 Series sedan but packs supercar performance underneath that hood with a bump on it. Moreover, it’s very practical with four seats and a large usable boot. The handling is superb, even in the more relaxed comfort mode. The M3 can be enjoyed by literally anyone with a heart for it. BMW India will soon launch the M3 in the country, though it will be slightly different from the car pictured here. The ‘made for India’ M3 will get smaller wheels and higher profile shoes along with a few other changes. Price is expected to be on the higher side, well in the region of Rs 1.1-1.2 crore. Yes, that’s more than a 7 Series! Not because BMW want it like that but our tax-men want their share of your money. But I would say that even though In India the M3 will be expensive, it is really a great driver’s car and anyone who really wants to make a statement in a comparatively smaller sedan, can happily invest in the M3.
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