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M3 CSL - e46 (2003 - ...) |
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Page 1 of 4 The New BMW M3 CSL: Intelligent Lightweight Technology and Supreme Driving
Dynamics.
A new sports car now embodies the very core of the BMW brand in its most original
style – the M3 CSL. Taking up the heritage and legendary success of BMW’s
famous lightweight coupés which gained fame in touring car racing back
in the ’70s, the engineers of BMW M have once again created a purist,
thoroughbred sports car consistently designed and built to the highest standard
of excellence.
In recognition of the fact that the weight spiral constantly going up can only
be brought to a halt by radically reducing all moving masses, BMW M’s
engineers, in developing this new car, have turned a thrilling lightweight concept
into reality. For the new BMW M3 CSL is not only more powerful than the already
very dynamic M3, but is also a lot lighter and therefore even more nimble.
In developing the M3 CSL, however, BMW M did not focus on the radical reduction
of weight alone. On the contrary – the task the designers and development
engineers gave themselves was to create a car full of purist driving dynamics,
a car absolutely pure in every respect, down to the very last component. And
the result, finally, is unique, absolutely unmarred driving dynamics and a purist
character.
The BMW M3 CSL thus combines supreme agility with the ultimate driving experience.
With its outstanding power-to-weight ratio of only 3.85 kg/bhp, this new car moves
into an entirely new dimension. So the engineers at BMW M are quite sure that
this sports car is able to break the 8-minute sound barrier on the legendary Northern
Circuit of Nurburgring, the ultimate benchmark in driving dynamics.
Intelligent lightweight technology enhancing driving dynamics to a
new dimension.
The formula BMW M’s specialists have followed in creating this dynamic
driving machine is “intelligent” lightweight technology: This means
consist¬ent reduction of weight by using the most appropriate materials
at the right point. Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic, one of the most important
materials in Formula 1, for example, not only reduces the overall weight of
the car (weigh¬ing approximately 110 kg (243 lb) less than the standard
M3, the M3 CSL has an overall weight of just 1,385 kg (3,054 lb), but also allows
even higher speeds in bends particularly through the use of this lightweight
material at the extreme ends of the car.
Right from the front the M3 CSL, through its newly designed, muscular front
air dam made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP) with an additional engine
air intake on the driver’s side demonstrates clearly that it is built
for supreme performance of the highest calibre. Flaps also clearly visible from
outside serve additionally to reduce front axle lift by a significant margin.
At the other end of the car the newly designed rear lid made of sheet moulding
compound (SMC), together with the integrated spoiler, also serves in conjunction
with the CFP rear diffuser to significantly reduce lift forces.
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BMW contract hire
