BMW M3 CRT introduces lightweight carbon fiber production process

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Luxury

BMW M3 CRT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Meet the new BMW M3 CRT. In this case, those letters do not mean cathode ray tube (think old-school computer monitors). According to BMW, CRT is short for Carbon Racing Technologies, and that's the kind of 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, though both were conceived as lightweight versions of the E90-series car with more power, better brakes and upgraded suspension bits. For instance, unlike the GTS, the CRT comes fully loaded with navigation, a premium stereo system and is based on the four-door sedan with high-tech front and rear seats.

BMW is using the M3 CRT to debut its new carbon fiber production technique, which is used to good effect on both the front seats and a new hood that is as strong as a conventional steel unit with just one quarter the weight. More weight reduction comes from the titanium muffler, 19-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels and less sound deadening material. Even the brake calipers are made from a new lightweight compound.

A fresh set of adjustable coilovers work with a more rigid rear subframe and wide tires (245/35R19 front and 265/35R19 rear) to up the handling quotient. Power comes from a 4.4-liter version of BMW's well-known high-revving V8 engine, producing 450 horsepower (at 8,300 rpm) and 324 pound-feet of torque (at 3,750 rpm). Those ponies are routed to the rear wheels through the automaker's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Add it all up and you're left with a machine that's capable of terrorizing the race track every weekend while still serving as a perfectly lovely daily driver in between... one that can zip from 0 to 62 miles per hour in what we bet is a conservative 4.4 seconds. Want one? Get in line, as BMW only plans to build 67 units, each painted up in Frozen Polar Silver metallic with Melbourne Red accents and a black and orange interior. And there's no word on any of them making it Stateside, in case you were wondering.

See our high-res image gallery for yourself, and feel free to peruse the complete press release after the break.

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BMW M3 CRT introduces lightweight carbon fiber production process originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/bmw-m3-crt-introduces-lightweight-carbon-fiber-production-proces/

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