1994 BMW M3

The new BMW M3 was introduced at the 1992 Paris Motor Show and was based on the E36 platform. The second incarnation of the M3 was a different animal than the prior 1980s E30 original, with a straight-six in place of the prior four. It had modern styling and a more refined demeanor. The Motorsport Division outfitted the iconic M3 with the standard M50TU engine (used in other E36s and earlier E34s). However, there were numerous upgrades over the standard M50 including individual throttle plates for each cylinder, continuously variable Vanos' valve timing, lightweight pistons, graphite-coated connecting rods, larger inlet valves, and re-designed equal length exhaust manifolds. These modifications resulted in the engine's ability to rev to nearly 7,300 RPM.

The M3 was developed even further in 1996, with an increase in capacity to 3,152cc becoming known as the (M3) Evolution. The car's superb road holding and all-round ability helped earn it the 'Best-Handling Car' by Car and Driver magazine in 1997.

The United States had to wait until 1995 before the M3 was added 3 Series lineup. The vehicle sold for $36,800 and a total of 5,806 examples were produced in 1995. A lightweight version was also available, selling for $47,900. Just 180 examples of these special vehicles were built.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2017