While the facelifted (or Life Cycle Impulse) BMW M3 and M3 Competition are both known quantities, Australian customers can now expect a third variant into the local mix in the form of the M3 Pure, which will kick off the car’s 2017 range at $129,900.
Due to arrive in July, it will complete a trio that would have mirrored the 2017 M4 range - also recently announced with the ‘entry-level’ M4 Pure. That term, even if substituted by calling it a 'base' model, would be a misnomer as in spite of its lower price, is actually the more powerful thanks to the Competition Pack.
This includes a raft of upgraded components performance-oriented calibrations to make it a sharper drive along with an engine remap which extracts an additional 14kW out of the S55 turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six engine to 331kW/550Nm. It’s paired to a seven-speed M DCT dual-clutch automatic on all variants which helps it sprint to 100km/h from rest in 4.0 seconds. A six-speed manual option is a no-cost selection.
To justify the price of the ‘vanilla’ M3 and to make the power differential easier to accept, the new M3 Pure isn’t as well specified as the variant above it. That said, it isn’t spartan by any means. To wit, the M3 Pure’s standard spec comes with:
- M Competition Package
- Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (six-speed manual available as a no-cost option)
- Alarm system
- BMW M Head-Up Display
- Carbon fibre roof (steel roof if sunroof is optioned)
- Comfort Access
- ConnectedDrive Freedom (including Concierge Services)
- Driving Assistant
- Carbon-fibre interior trims
- Navigation System Professional
- Tyre Pressure Monitor
- Carbon structure cloth/leather upholstery
- LED Headlights
- Nine-speaker HiFi Loudspeaker System
Just like the M4 LCI, the 2017 M3 adopts the new-design LED Adaptive headlights and subtly altered fascia. Inside, there’s double stitching highlights on the non-Pure M3 and M3 Competition dashboard while all variants gain the newest iDrive6 with Navigation System Professional through an 8.8-inch central display and an illuminated ‘M3’ badge on the front face of the M sports seats.
The 2017 model year BMW M3 price structure now stands as:
- M3 Pure Sedan - $129,900
- M3 Sedan - $139,900
- M3 Competition - $144,900
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