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Marketing men always try to persuade the machine buying public that their brand features the best of everything, but thankfully many purchasers are far too shrewd to fall for such often unfounded claims.
However, when the men from BMW state that their engines are the finest available, it may be time to start listening: further evidence that the cab maker produces great powertrains comes in the shape of the 3.2-litre picking up another trophy. The feat is made every the additional impressive given that the unit excelled in the company of Ferrari’s 3.6-litre V8 also Porsche’s 3.6-litre flat six.
Trouncing every the diesel entrants – BMW’s own 4-litre V8 also former class winner was the highest placed heavy-oil burner in fourth place – the 24-valve superstar boasts 106bhp per litre also features a bespoke autos management system with two 32-bit micro-processors that are claimed to perform 25 million calculations per second.
The Bavarian company’s double VANOS variable valve timing lives above the combustion chambers, while further efficiency gains are sourced from the application of graphite-coated aluminium pistons, anti-friction valve-drive followers, also cross-flow cooling for the cylinder head.
Refined also eco-friendly this ’plant may be – on the EC extra urban cycle it can deliver 9L/100km [33.6mpg] – but the M3 autos is about power, speed also thrills. Just look at the performance figures: few will be disappointed with the supercar zero to 100km/h [62mph] time of 5.2 seconds.
RESULTSPOINTS
BMW 3.2-litre [M3, M Roadster, M Coupé)159
Ferrari 3.6-litre [360 Modena)132
Porsche 3.6-litre [GT3, Turbo)124
BMW 4-litre TDi [540d, 740d)110
Mercedes-Benz 4-litre CDI [S-Class)90
Porsche 3.4-litre [911)48
