BMW to show lightweight M3 concept

[igor@af]

(16:40 Sep. 09, 2001) - AutoWeek

BMW will show a lightweight M3 adorned with its celebrated CSL nameplate at this month’s Frankfurt show. Built by BMW’s M division as part of a study of lightweight materials, the car is a one-off with no production potential, the company says.

It weighs 2850 pounds, undercutting the standard M3 by some 440 pounds, thanks to carbon fiber roof, doors, trunklid, front air dam and exterior mirror housings. Inside, the leather bucket seats are replaced by dual hardshell racing pews and the rear seat has been removed. Polished carbon fiber trims the doors, console, dashboard and steering wheel and the rear window is of thinner glass. Parts of the floorpan and rear bulkhead are made of a honeycomb sandwich material typically used in aerospace applications.

A beefed-up 3.2-liter inline six with revised intake and low-friction internal components is rpm-limited at 8200 rpm, up 200 rpm from stock. Expect a 370-hp output, up by 27 hp, using European figures. The combined weight loss and power gain suggest the CSL carts only 7.7 lbs/hp vs. the standard M3’s already impressive 9.6 lbs/hp. BMW made no acceleration claims, but calculations suggest 0-60 mph in around 4.5 seconds.

[kris]

What is it?
BMW M3 CSL Lightweight Concept

What's special about it?
BMW's M3 CSL Lightweight Concept laps the northern circuit of Germany's famed Nurburgring in less than 8 minutes. How's that grab you for special? Think about it this way: A stock M3 requires 30 additional seconds to perform the same feat.

That's what happens when a great sports car goes on a diet. The CSL Lightweight weighs a whopping 440 fewer pounds than a stock M3, without foregoing the amenities that make daily driving that much easier. Not only has the car lost weight, but it also makes more power — more than 350 horses thanks to a streamlined cylinder charge process and reduced friction. The result is a 7.7-pound per horsepower power to weight ratio instead of the stock M3's 9.6-lb. per hp figure. This engine drives the rear wheels through BMW's Sequential M Gearbox with Drivelogic (SMG). Two paddles mounted to the steering wheel are used to shift gears.

To shed poundage, BMW jettisoned the side airbags, the rear seat and the trunk toolkit. Beyond that, plenty of carbon fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics were used to lighten the M3. The front air dam and the doors, as well as the rear decklid, are carbon fiber. Flaps on the air dam, side mirror housings and roof are also carbon fiber. Weight came out of the bulkhead between the passenger compartment and the trunk, the floorpan and the floor of the cargo compartment. The seat frames, center console and gauge trim are composed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. Extra-thin rear glass is employed, and magnesium supports the instrument panel.

And with 19-inch wheels with 18-inch brake discs, you can imagine that this Lightweight is no lightweight when it comes to going and stopping.

Why should you care?
Just when you thought the M3 couldn't possibly get any more fantabulous, along comes BMW with this drool-inducing concept. Remember, back in 1995 a limited-production M3 Lightweight was sold in dramatically low numbers. Could it be that the boys from Bavaria are planning an encore?

[DVSNCYNIKL]

Wow, how can I get one?

[primera man]

That i could see myself in

[DVSNCYNIKL]

Originally posted by primera man
That i could see myself in

You got a Primera. Let us poor folks enjoy the good life!

[primera man]

Originally posted by DVSNCYNIKL


You got a Primera. Let us poor folks enjoy the good life!

You poor......the man thats getting a RSX soon !!!!

[DVSNCYNIKL]

Originally posted by primera man


You poor......the man thats getting a RSX soon !!!!

You stand corrected, planning on getting soon.:hehe::hehe:

[Porsche]

Same thing, is it more like me? I plan on getting a Lamborghini....

[F20C]

The car is not going into production. Just the body panels itself will make the car way too costly. To justify production cost measures BMW will have to charge 150,000 per car. Although a great car indeed 370hp and 2800lbs curb weight. Is it justify for that kind of money?

[hermunn123]

Originally posted by kbslacker

What is it?
BMW M3 CSL Lightweight Concept

What's special about it?
BMW's M3 CSL Lightweight Concept laps the northern circuit of Germany's famed Nurburgring in less than 8 minutes. How's that grab you for special? Think about it this way: A stock M3 requires 30 additional seconds to perform the same feat.

That's what happens when a great sports car goes on a diet. The CSL Lightweight weighs a whopping 440 fewer pounds than a stock M3, without foregoing the amenities that make daily driving that much easier. Not only has the car lost weight, but it also makes more power — more than 350 horses thanks to a streamlined cylinder charge process and reduced friction. The result is a 7.7-pound per horsepower power to weight ratio instead of the stock M3's 9.6-lb. per hp figure. This engine drives the rear wheels through BMW's Sequential M Gearbox with Drivelogic (SMG). Two paddles mounted to the steering wheel are used to shift gears.

To shed poundage, BMW jettisoned the side airbags, the rear seat and the trunk toolkit. Beyond that, plenty of carbon fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics were used to lighten the M3. The front air dam and the doors, as well as the rear decklid, are carbon fiber. Flaps on the air dam, side mirror housings and roof are also carbon fiber. Weight came out of the bulkhead between the passenger compartment and the trunk, the floorpan and the floor of the cargo compartment. The seat frames, center console and gauge trim are composed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. Extra-thin rear glass is employed, and magnesium supports the instrument panel.

And with 19-inch wheels with 18-inch brake discs, you can imagine that this Lightweight is no lightweight when it comes to going and stopping.

Why should you care?
Just when you thought the M3 couldn't possibly get any more fantabulous, along comes BMW with this drool-inducing concept. Remember, back in 1995 a limited-production M3 Lightweight was sold in dramatically low numbers. Could it be that the boys from Bavaria are planning an encore?

[kris]

Originally posted by hermunn123

Show me a link

[hermunn123]

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t583.html

i could have sworn there were more! i guess i just read a lot of articles and my brother sent me info on it a long time ago. i take back my comment...

[DVSNCYNIKL]

That's plaguerism!! I see a lawsuit and money to be made! j/k

[Morpheus XIII]

The M3 CSL is a concept car, but near production. F20C, where do you get your data? True, it has not yet been confirmed that the CSL will make it into production, but also, it has not yet been denied. EVO states that if the CSL receives a 'go' (and why would BMW hold back on it? the E36 lightweight was an international delight) it could get an early 2003 release at 50,000 pounds. That's far under the 150,000 U.S. mark you mentioned.

Also note: How insane is a BMW Motorsports division engineer? Even the under-carpet foam is of the diet variety. The Nurburgring time was achieved in major part to the SMG gearbox which changes gears in 80 milliseconds! Can you speed shift that fast? God bless computers--especially ones designed by Siemens (which operate the SMG).

Below various press shots:

[Morpheus XIII]

Cabin: