Supermodel-light BMW M3 CRT

With a power-to-weight ratio of 3.5kg per horsepower, the BMW M3 CRT is seriously light, a serious performer and seriously sexy to boot. It will be made at the BMW M GmbH factory and it will have a limited production run of just 67 vehicles.

It’s all about carbon racing technology - hence the CRT in the name - and this plays a big role in making this sports performance car the latest marvel to come out of Bavaria. With the inspiration all about motorsport, the M3 CRT also debuts a new manufacturing process for using carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the auto industry.

CFRP is widely used in the M3 CRT’s construction, along with a V8 engine equipped with the M-series’ expected high revving action and a maximum output of 450bhp. It achieves 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds.

Other vital features of this streamlined saloon include bucket seats in the front, a direct nod to the racing pedigree - and these are made of a cellular carbon honeycomb which has been pioneered for BMW’s i3 and i8 models.

The new models from Beamer that will use the CFRP will go into high volume production in 2013 - so for now we’ll have to make do with drooling over the pictures of the M3 CRT. These new cars will also feature electric and ActiveHybrid technology along with a body entirely made of CFRP in the passenger cell area.

In the M3 CRT, this technology means the bonnet will be made from two CFRP mouldings encasing a honeycomb structure - the weight saving of this process compared with a standard aluminium bonnet is around 50%. The CFRP is also used to make the rear spoiler and an air-channelling element that is integrated into the front apron.

Quite simply, the BMW M3 CRT is the next logical step in a long line of historically lightweight performance cars from the automaker harking back to the BMW 3.0 CSL of the 1970s, the BMW M3 CSL of 2002 and the BMW M6 made up to 2010.







































Just 67 M3 CTS will be built by BMW. But none are destined for the UK. Did someone upset the Germans?


By Georgia Lewis

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