Drive Magazine of Greece takes the new F80 BMW M3 on the highest road in Austria. Grossglockner is not only the highest road in Austria (3,798 metres above the Adriatic – 12,461 ft) but also one of the most demanding for both the car and the driver.
The new F80 BMW M3 doesn’t need a huge introduction anymore. The latest generation M3 has been praised by most journalists from around the world and according to BMW M, the car is a hit. Production lines are running at full capacity and some delays in production are occurring as well.
The 2015 BMW M3 is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six which makes 425 hp and 406 lb-ft. That’s barely up from the last-gen M3′s peak 414 hp, but up significantly in the torque department.
But with the new M3 and M4, the engine is not the main topic of discussion. BMW M feels most proud about the work done on the chassis and drivetrain. The aero downforce and cooling traits of the underbelly have both been enhanced. We noticed particularly the standard locking rear differential and its enormous cooling vanes. This differential needs to work harder than ever as there is now a drift sensor which senses drift and immediately locks things up. This in theory should make constructive controlled oversteer particularly satisfying.
The front and rear (especially rear) axle carriers are now bolted directly to the chassis and not via dense rubber bushings anymore. Hence the added ties to the motorsports world.
So let’s have a look at the F80 BMW M3 going through some twisties:
