2012 BMW M3 CRT
If you have not already met allow me to introduce to you quite possibly the rarest M3 ever, the 2012 BMW M3 CRT. Remember in 2009 when BMW introduced the lightweight halo model to the E9X M generation? How could you not? With that tangerine paint it is not soon to be forgotten. Well, consider the M3 CRT the sedan counterpart. In the previous E46 generation you may be familiar with the M3 CSL (Coupe Sport Lightweight) and even the generation prior (E36) offered an M3 LTW. BMW simply takes the M3 concept and sets out to create a stripped-out limited edition track-ready cherry on top of the M3 lineup.But never has BMW taken a sedan and applied the same track couture. The main goal in terms of dynamics is to increase the ever-important power-to-weight ratio, done most effectively by simply increasing power and decreasing weight. For the CRT, BMW has used the same motor found in the M3 GT: a bored out 4.4L version of the standard M3's 4.0L V8 ponying up 450HP and 324 ft/lbs of torque.
The Diet
Much attention has been paid to the seating and the hood using Carbon Racing Technology. The hood is composed of a honey-comb core sandwiched between two layers of carbon fibre matching the rigidity but splitting the weight of a standard aluminum hood. The seats are everything you would expect. The front seats that is. Heavily bolstered, beautifully finished and made of the same carbon structural technology. The rear seats are something of an oddity. Never would I expect any attention to be paid to your back seat drivers, especially of a purpose-built model like this one. The sedan, traditionally being a 5-passenger vehicle, now only seats 4. Ditched is the rear bench in favour of 2 bolstered passenger seats. Considerable weight savings can also be attributed to a new lightweight titanium exhaust system and weight-optimized sound deadening throughout the car. Lightweight brakes are finally something to brag about, both because of their light weight and good looks.
FUN FACT: BMW is the leading auto manufacturer when it comes to carbon fibre. They demonstrated their lead by achieving an early stake in a leading carbon fibre manufacturer in Germany. Since then the rate of increase in their stake is only paralleled by the consumer demand for carbon fibre and BMW's need for it in production vehicles and motorsport.
At the end of the day you have an M3 sedan that is almost 10% more powerful and weighs 100lbs less and an improved power-to-weight ratio of 7.6lbs/hp, a 15.5% improvement over stock. A sedan has always been known to be more practical than a coupe and the M3 CRT is no different when compared to the GTS. The GTS benefits from a full roll cage, rear seat deletion, along with the deletion of the climate control system and radio. These features (or lack of features I suppose) never found their way into the sedan. However, BMW claims that if items like this are considered, the real weight savings is about 155lbs. When you stack the improved power-to-weight ratio with the increased rigidity you are left with quite a potent combination. In terms of production cars this was BMW M's last hurrah with the E9X generation with a nod to the saloon and a big nod to Motorsport. Needless to say all 67 units are already spoken for. But don't dare shed a tear unless you have over $180,000 laying around...
Press launch video.
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