BMW M3

s many had predicted, the new M3 will undercut its arch rival, the four-door, four-wheel-drive Audi RS4, but only just. Details emerging just as we went to press reveal that the UK on-the-road price will be £50,625, just a fraction less than the £51,030 asked for the RS4.

This means that the new M3 (model number E92) is substantially more expensive than the previous generation E46 model -- the last-of-the-line CS cost less than £44K. The new car comes as standard with sat nav (previously a £2200 option) and is, of course, more potent. With 414bhp, the new 'S56' V8 delivers a full 76bhp (22 per cent) more than the 3.2-litre straight-six, and is claimed to be 8 per cent more fuel efficient. BMW also claims that the E92 is 'considerably' faster than the E46 around the Nürburgring Nordschleife but hasn't yet revealed by how much it betters the old car's 8min 15sec lap.

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