BMW M3 CRT`S Lightweight Carbon Fiber

In this case, th?se letters d? not mean cathode ray tube. Acc?rding t? BMW, CRT is short f?r Carbon Racing Technol?gies, and that is the kind ?f thing we can really get behind. That's especially true when the car being CRT-ized is the M3. The BMW M3 CRT differs quite a bit from last year's M3 GTS, th?ugh both were c?nceived as lightweight versions ?f the E90-series car with m?re power, better brakes and upgraded suspensi?n bits.

F?r instance, unlike the GTS, the CRT comes fully l?aded with navigation, a premium stere? system and is based on the four-d??r sedan with high-tech front and rear seats.

BMW is using the M3 CRT t? debut its new carbon fiber pr?ducti?n technique, which is used t? good effect ?n both the fr?nt seats and a new hood that is as str?ng as a conventional steel unit with just ?ne quarter the weight. M?re weight reduction c?mes fr?m the titanium muffler, 19-inch Y-spoke all?y wheels and less sound deadening material. Even the brake calipers are made fr?m a new lightweight c?mpound.

A fresh set ?f adjustable coilovers w?rk with a m?re rigid rear subframe and wide tires t? up the handling quotient. P?wer c?mes from a 4.4-liter version ?f BMW's well-known high-revving V8 engine, pr?ducing 450 h?rsepower (at 8,300 rpm) and 324 p?und-feet ?f torque (at 3,750 rpm). Th?se ponies are routed t? the rear wheels through the aut?maker's seven-speed dual-clutch gearb?x.

Add it all up and y?u are left with a machine that is capable ?f terrorizing the race track every weekend while still serving as a perfectly l?vely daily driver in between - one that can zip fr?m 0 t? 62 miles per hour in what we bet is a conservative 4.4 sec?nds. Want ?ne? Get in line, as BMW only plans t? build 67 units, each painted up in Frozen Polar Silver metallic with Melb?urne Red accents and a black and ?range interior.

And there is n? word ?n any of them making it Stateside, in case y?u were wondering.

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