What could be better than two of Bavaria’s finest, completely uninhibited on home turf? Well, not much really – especially when the two protagonists in question (so to speak) happen to be an M3 convertible and an X6 xDrive50i.

BMW’s iconic M division needs no introduction – suffice to say, a 4.0 liter V8 that produces 420 horsepower and a 3 series convertible are a marriage made in heaven. The X6, introduced last year, is BMW’s all-new SAC (Sports Activity Coupe), and it wears that badge proudly indeed courtesy of a brand new 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 400 horsepower. And if there’s any doubt that BMW makes the best engines in the world, you need only look at the 2008 results of the International Engine of Year Awards – 6 out of 12 awards went to BMW.

What we’re dealing with, then, are two absolute thoroughbreds, 820 horsepower, 3 days, and 1,000 miles – much of which is on large stretches of unrestricted German Autobahn. Now, that’s either a recipe for disaster or pure unadulterated fun – or both.

M meaning ‘Menacing’



The original (E30) M3 is credited with making the BMW M division a household name all over the world. First introduced in 1987, the M3 was primarily created to homologate the 3 series for touring car racing. And it was well worth the effort because the M3 dominated at racing circuits all over the world, taking the World Touring Car Championship that year, not to mention the European Touring Car Championship in 87 and 88, DTM titles in 87 and 89, British Touring Car titles in 88 and 91, the Australian Touring Car title in 87, and the Italian Championship in 87, 89, 90 and 91 – talk about racing pedigree!

The second generation (E36) M3, built from 92 to 99, was perhaps the most usable everyday sports car of its time – like the current generation, it was even available as a four-door. Its M-division tuned chassis ensured impeccable feedback and handling, while its straight-six motor delivered seamless power at the slightest touch of the accelerator pedal. It really was a car that felt just ‘right’ the minute you got into the drivers’ seat. The third generation (E46) M3, built from 2000 to 2006, was just as scalpel sharp – perhaps even more so. Its 3.2 liter straight-six delivered over 340 horsepower, ensuring performance levels to match the venerable Porsche 911. The E46 M3 had a stiffer chassis than its predecessor, and its manic power delivery combined with its incredible grip on the road surface made it an even more focused sports car.

The current generation M3, therefore, has a lot to live up to – thankfully, however, its credentials do look promising. With the previous (E46) M3, the M division extracted every ounce of horsepower conceivable from its legendary straight-six motor. As a result, the M3 we have here has a thumping V8 heart. And the beauty of that, of course, is that it’s considerably more powerful at 420 horsepower, but it’s also amazingly 15 kilos lighter than the smaller six cylinder unit. And what’s more, it’s derived from the incomparable 5.0 liter V10 in the M5 and M6, which itself shares a fair amount of technology with the Formula 1 engine that sits in the back of Nick Heidfeld’s BMW-Sauber.



But more on that later, first let’s start with how it looks – which in one word is, well, fantastic. This particular car has a folding hard top, but it’s integrated so well that you can’t really tell that it’s a convertible at first glance. With the top down, however, it barely leaves space in the boot for even a small umbrella, leave alone anything else.

The front end of the car looks extremely menacing, with a deep, chiseled air dam below, and a power bulge in the bonnet above. Our test car looked particularly good with its white paint and contrasting 18-inch anthracite alloys. On the whole, the design is subtle enough to allow you to stay under the radar if you so choose, but with enough aggressive cues, not to mention M badges, to spell out your intentions, and ensure people still get out of your way.

On the inside, the M3 is brilliant – allowing you to find the perfect driving position instantly. You sit facing a beautiful three-spoke steering wheel with its customary stitching in the M colours of blue and red. It’s the perfect size, and padded to just the right amount to give you a really good grip on the steering. Mounted on the steering column, just how they should be, are straight-forward paddles to control the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox – up on the right, down on the left. Behind this are a set of clear individual gauges for the speedometer and tachometer. Every surface in the cabin is covered in leather, and soft touch materials. There’s a band of carbon-fiber-look woven leather that runs across the dashboard, which is a nice touch. The seats are tremendously comfortable, allowing you to cover large expanses of Autobahn in supreme comfort. The latest version of iDrive is easier to use than before, but can still be cumbersome to operate. The best part, however, is looking over the iDrive screen in the center of the dash, and onto the power bulge in the bonnet, which reminds you all the time that there’s something very special under the hood.



Speaking of which, you reach for the chrome ringed start-stop button to fire up the engine, which sounds absolutely incredible from the get go – uniquely deep throated and shrill in equal measure, not to mention purposeful all the time. The first thing you notice is just how easy the M3 is to drive. At low speeds, the steering is light. You can adjust the ride courtesy of the adaptive dampers. You can also adjust the speed and severity of the gearshifts in the dual-clutch gearbox. The V8 power plant generates plenty of torque low in the rev range, allowing you to cruise effortlessly if you so choose. It’s only when you press a seemingly inconspicuous button on the center console marked ‘Power’ that things start to get really interesting. The throttle pedal now responds to even a whiff of movement from your right foot, following which the car shoots forward regardless of your current speed. The M3 gets instantly transformed from comfortable cruiser to manic sports car. The V8 sounds even more monstrous, as it sucks in large quantities of air to propel the M3 down the road at breakneck speed.

The new dual-clutch gearbox is amazing – it’s quick, smooth and seamless, all the qualities that were missing in the previous generation SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox). The incredible shifts really do ensure that no forward momentum at all is lost when changing gear – not that you have to keep changing gear, however, because of the wide power band of this very versatile engine. But when you do downshift, it’s accompanied by a sweet sounding, albeit hair raising blip of the throttle – courtesy of the on-board computer matching revs.

The steering loads up in your hands as you pick up speed, and even though it’s not brimming with feel like the first and second generation M3’s, it’s still direct and communicative. And it’s helped along the way by an equally communicative and predictable chassis, which, even though our test car was a convertible, is extremely stiff and rigid – allowing the M3 to turn into corners very precisely indeed. Even mid corner, the M3 responds instantly. It inspires so much confidence that you can play with the chassis via the throttle pedal at will. But you do have to deactivate the Nazi traction control system, which cuts in aggressively at even the slightest hint of wheelspin.



In fact, the M3 feels so surefooted, as it sticks to the pavement like glue, while at the same time the engine allows you to achieve immense speed so effortlessly that you invariably arrive at the impending corner too fast. At which point, you can’t possibly imagine slowing down in time. But the brakes are better than you can believe, and the M3 sheds speed with tremendous force, yet consistency, every single time.

The breadth of capabilities of the M3 is really hard to believe. It’s equally happy pounding around the mountainous back streets of the country, as it is on the wide straights of the Autobahn. We were fortunate that our test car came without the electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h) – allowing us the opportunity to touch 275km/h on an unrestricted stretch of Autobahn. Needless to say, the M3 felt perfectly stable at that speed. Frankly, it didn’t feel much different from 175km/h, other than the scenery streaming by at a slightly faster rate. The real difference is actually felt when you lift your foot off the accelerator pedal, and are struck by the immediate force of the aerodynamic drag as it slows you down instantly.

The only real concern thrown up by the M3 is that perhaps it’s too capable. You simply have to achieve too much speed to feel like you’re anywhere near approaching the limits of the car, which, of course, is where the fun is had. It’s just not as visceral and involving as a first gen M3, but I suppose that’s the price of progress.

At the end of the day, though, this is a sports car that you can use on Indian streets. It’s comfortable and supremely capable at the same time. The ride is adjustable, although still on the stiff side for most Indian roads. But that apart, the M3 ensures that it can be driven like a regular car for most of the day, but then has the ability to transform itself instantly into a supercar slayer at the press of some inconspicuous buttons marked ‘Power’ and ‘M.’ Yes, M most certainly stands for menacing.

Engine	:	3,999cc / V8 / 32 valves / individual throttle butterflies with electronic control
Fuel	:	Petrol
Transmission	:	7-speed DCT (Double Clutch Transmission) / Rear-Wheel Drive
Power	:	420bhp @ 8300rpm
Torque	:	295lb/ft @ 3900rpm
Acceleration	:	0-100km/h – 5.1 seconds
Price	:	Rs. 75 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)