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Thankfully, BMW has resisted the urge to exploit its well-known Motorsport brand. The latest M3 features several subtle reminders of its capabilities, but for the most part they are low-key and tasteful. Just the way they should be.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
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msdaisy says:
05:18 PM, 06/15/09
Details like this are fine. What's not okay is having giant lettering on the exterior like on some Ford Mustangs' rocker panels and bumpers.
Having M U S T A N G written everywhere just makes the car seem desperate for attention.
carguy622 says:
05:20 PM, 06/15/09
The stitching on the steering wheel is especially neat. Love the red interior. Enough gray, black, and beige. Let there be colors!
mercedesfan says:
05:33 PM, 06/15/09
I like the subtle details (BMW always seems to get them right), but the rest of the design is disappointing to me. Just like with recent AMG vehicles, I hate that these performance versions have become so flamboyant. I loved the W202 C43 and W210 E55 as well as the E36 M3 and E39 M5 because they were sleepers. New "M" and "AMG" models are just so desperate for attention.
bkochuk says:
05:54 PM, 06/15/09
I like stealth cars. not sure the M could ever be one, but it's best to keep everything on the down low...
samjpatrick says:
08:53 PM, 06/15/09
Toyota could learn a lesson. On the not very sporty "Sport" edition of the RAV4 there are 10 "SPORT" badges placed on the vehicle. One on each front door (2), one on each front floor mat (2), one on every doorsill guard (4), one on the trunk mat and finally a tiny one on the shift knob that looks like an amputated protuberance from a Terminator.
jbond04 says:
12:04 AM, 06/16/09
"Thankfully, BMW has resisted the urge to exploit its well-known Motorsport brand."
That used to be true...until they announced the X5 M and the X6 M.
fa1 says:
12:26 PM, 06/16/09
jbond: Completely agree with you. Once X5 M and X6 M are released, I might stop caring about M cars. M3 is the last pure-bred M car with racing heritage.
On a side note, standing close to the M3 really shows beautiful small details that are not noticeable from a distance like the huge fender flares, the wheels sitting flush with the arches, perfect gaps on all wheel wells, the quad exhausts sticking out, the power bulge at the hood. Fantastic design!
bimmerjay says:
10:03 PM, 06/16/09
"New "M" and "AMG" models are just so desperate for attention."
I agree. I took particular issue with the slits added to the AMG front bumpers. Overall they just don't look as good as they used to, now I'm afraid they'll eat someone's children.