In an apparent attempt to catch BMW enthusiasts napping, BMW announced today a fourth variant of this high-performance sports car to follow the BMW M3 Coupé, Convertible and Sedan.
To add to the deception, spy photos were released last month showing a camouflaged pickup testing on the Nürburgring. The official release from BMW stated that “the world’s first high-performance pickup had been created at the BMW M GmbH development center under the strictest secrecy.
The company went on to explain that the BMW M3 Pickup would have a 420hp engine under the hood, and a rear-axle load capacity of up to 990 lb. It then explained that after extensive test and set-up drives on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife, it would be unveiling on 1 April 2011.
Having let the cat out of the bag, the news release continued:
“With this vehicle, BMW M GmbH once again furnishes evidence of its exceptional competence in developing and building high-grade, individual dream cars.
“With a high-revving V8 engine at the front, a generously-sized load area behind and a removable Targa roof above, the driver and passenger in the BMW M3 Pickup will relish an unprecedented take on the familiar M feeling.
“Yet this spectacular new development is unmistakably recognizable as a member of the BMW M3 model family. Corroborating this kinship are not just the inimitable power of the engine, but also fine-tuned aerodynamics and a tailored suspension set-up. Measurements in the wind tunnel at the BMW Group’s Aerodynamic Test Center showed a Cd factor on a par with that of the BMW M3 Coupé.
“Like every
BMW M model, the BMW M3 Pickup has also demonstrated its dynamic potential on the North Loop of the Nürburgring. Official lap times have not yet been released, but the needle in the dial vouched for a top speed of 300km/h (186mph).”
The kerb weight of the world’s fastest pickup undercuts that of the BMW M3 Convertible by around 110 lb. Removing the Targa roof shaves off a further 44 lb, while at the same time lowering the car’s centre of gravity. This most unusual experience of top-down driving in a BMW M3 thus goes hand in hand with further optimized dynamic handling.
“The bed of the BMW M3 Pickup is clad in high-grade aluminum sheeting and provides the biggest cargo capacity ever offered on a BMW M vehicle. In terms of the unit of measurement generally applied to premium automobiles, that gives the load area of the M3 Pickup the capacity to carry up to 20 standard 46-inch golf bags. What’s more, the BMW M3 Pickup is the first BMW M3 variant in the 25-year-plus history of this model range to come with a trailer hitch.
“Notwithstanding these unquestionable qualities, the BMW M3 Pickup will not be heading for the golf course or series development, but will retain its status as an exclusive one-off. It is earmarked for use as a workshop transport vehicle for BMW M GmbH. With this in mind, the current BMW M3 Pickup – unlike a similar predecessor built back in the 1980s – has gone through the requisite procedures to earn its road certification. Which makes it officially a truck – but one that puts a whole new spin on the meaning of the word."