► One-off BMW M3 for US
► Shown at SEMA 2017 show
► Celebrates 30 years of M3
BMW is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the M3 in the USA with a one-off saloon in a fitting colour scheme of red, white and blue, plus golden eagle-aping alloys.
Revealed at the 2017 SEMA show in Las Vegas, the transparently named BMW M3 30 Years American Edition was designed by BMW Group Designworks to celebrate the M3’s arrival to the US market in 1987.
Gallery: the best of SEMA 2017
What’s this all about then?
M3 nostalgia – so you get a six-speed manual Competition Package car, with a striking Frozen Red II Metallic paint job in a low-gloss finish, aimed at channelling the original M3’s Henna Red.
Setting off the bright paintwork is a set of one-off M Performance Golden light alloy wheels (19-inch front, 20-inch rear) said to have been inspired by the M3 E30 DTM’s racing rims.
Finally some stripes have been applied to remind everyone you have a carbonfiber-reinforced plastic roof by picking out its weave, and there’s a special 30th Anniversary graphic on the rear sunshade.
What about the BMW M3 30 Years American Edition interior?
BMW picked an American-as-apple-pie red, white and blue colour scheme for the inside of this M3, which continues throughout the cabin.
Merino leather in Opal White is picked out by stripes of Mugello Red hide on the seat bolsters, instrument panel and doors, while the seat inserts are Fjord Blue.
There’s even a load of red, white and blue contrast stitching on the seats, lower instrument panel, and armrest upper, plus a golden-fringed American flag on the doors.
Is there any change in hardware?
Lots – we’re talking shock absorbers with contrasting red springs and a BMW M Performance carbonfibre rear wing for a kick-off.
Those special wheels mentioned earlier are milled from a single blank for enhanced steering response, although that’s a fairly unquantifiable improvement.
Finally there’s an M Performance exhaust system with titanium rear silencer and 93mm tailpipes in carbonfibre for superior soundtrack and visual appeal.
I want one…
You can’t have it. Sadly there will only be this model – and it’s going to cost $130,110, which is £100,000 of your limey sterling.
That’s a lot of money and the car’s value will largely come from its single-model prestige, rather than the sum total of its additional parts.
Here’s a plan – buy a standard M3 and get it wrapped instead.
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