Believe it or not, BMW's M performance division has been going since 1972, and next year the Blue Propeller Boffins will celebrate 40 years of “M”-ing with this very special car, the M3 Competition Edition, in a very special colour, Frozen Silver Metallic (honestly, Cyril, I couldn't make this up!) of which only 40 will be made, thus ensuring instant cult status.
It has the four-litre, 309kW V8 of the standard M3, revving to a howling 8400rpm, but with a new M dual-clutch transmission that's claimed to reduce its 0-100 sprint time from 4.7 to 4.5 seconds.
Ride height has been reduced by 10mm, running on special black M3 GTS rims with wider offset (a cute way to increase track without a lot of suspension mods!) and both the electronic damping control and dynamic mode engine mapping have been revised for sportier response.
The kidney grille, bonnet scoops, M side gills, tailpipes and exterior trim are all finished in dark chrome, while the interior is dressed in black leather with carbon-fibre trim on the dashboard and centre console, and palladium silver accents and palladium silver contrast stitching on the front seats, head restraints, door trim panels and handles, centre console, and centre armrest.
The alcantara-trimmed multi-function M steering has an M3 chequered flag logo, as do the door sill-plates, while the handbrake lever has an embroidered M Power logo.
The M3 Competition Edition will sell in the US for $81 060 (R650 000); sadly, BMW SA has no plans to release it in South Africa.