What has gone wrong with BMW's spectacular "M" division?
The 400 horsepower M5 and E46 M3 were undeniably the best in class. They offered handling, feedback, poise and confidence that would make the competition envious. When people simply wanted to drive, BMW's M3 and M5 were the clear choice in their respective classes.
However, the new M5 with V10 engine and 500 horsepower has been plagued by electronic gizmos such as traction control that can't be disabled on the manual version and an SMG transmission that has taken away from the clarity and smoothness found in the E90 M5. The M5 has even lost to the Audi RS4 when tested by Edmunds.
A similar problem exists for the new E92 M3 with V8 and 420 horsepower. Instead of being hounded by electronic safety systems, the car simply has lost its edge when compared to the E46 M3. The handling is not as sharp, steering feel is not as communicative, exhaust is subdued and the car simply lacks the overall dynamic brilliance found in the E46 M3.
Meanwhile the boys at AMG have clearly stepped their game up two-notches with the new C63 AMG. The car has horsepower and torque that will allow it to be competitive and likely the winner in acceleration tests. The kicker is this time around AMG figured out how to make a car with phenomenal handling, feedback, poise and confidence that was missing from other go-fast straight-line AMGs that couldn't track nearly as well as the BMW M cars.
Audi has even stepped up with the RS4. Who would have ever thought an Audi RS4 cabriolet would be praised for having better handling than a BMW M3 coupe? It makes us wonder what will be in store for the BMW M3 when compared to the dramatically more dynamic C63 and even sharper RS4 sedan.
The CSL version will help the new M3, but it is likely to come at a price tag placing it in BMW M5 territory....