BMW Looks Back on Four M3 Prototypes That Were Never Made

BMW is celebrating the 30th birthday of the M3 this year by looking back at the model’s rich history. And some of the most intriguing parts of that history involve prototypes that never saw the light of day in the showroom, or even beyond the factory. These four BMW M3 prototypes reveal what could have been.

 

BMW M3 Pickup (1986)

1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarter in motion

Yes, BMW built a pickup version of its first-generation M3, but likely not because it had any hopes for production. This vehicle is the result of BMW workers looking for the perfect vehicle to transport parts and equipment around the automaker’s factory in Garching, near Munich. Essentially, BMW took a 3 Series convertible and transformed it into a pickup, putting in a 2.0-liter engine that delivered 192 hp. Later, the engine was swapped out with a more robust 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 200 hp. The model proved quite durable, lasting 26 years before BMW put it out of service.

 

BMW M3 Compact (1996)

BMW M3 E36 Compact front three quarter

It’s quite likely the BMW M3 Compact could have entered production, but it wasn’t meant to be. Intended to lure younger buyers to the M brand, the BMW M3 Compact was lighter and more powerful than the standard model, boasting 321 ponies. While it may seem like a loss, perhaps it was better that the model didn’t go on sale. BMW says it likely would have produced less power in production form, and it ended up representing an important stepping stone in the automaker’s history anyway. “To a certain extent, the M3 Compact can be regarded as the forefather of today’s BMW M2,” notes Jakob Polschak, head of vehicle prototype building and workshops at BMW M Division, in a press release.

 

BMW M3 Touring (2000)

2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear three quarters

The BMW M3 Touring was an exercise in engineering. BMW wanted to see how much work and money it would take to build an M version of the standard 3 Series Touring. BMW wanted to prove it could rework the doors of the M3 from the standard 3 Series so they would accommodate the different wheel arches. BMW says the experiment was a success, as it wasn’t much trouble to tack on M-specific parts after the fact. It’s unclear why this model never transpired, as BMW was considering a production run.

 

BMW M3 Pickup (2011)

2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept side profile

BMW retired its original M3 pickup four years ago. But just before that, BMW went to work on a second M3 pickup in 2011, and once again, it would only be used for rolling around the factory. But that’s not what BMW wanted the public to believe. Just prior to April Fool’s Day, BMW sent its new M3 pickup around the Nurburgring, and spy shots soon surfaced. Inevitably, the public was lead to believe a production version was coming. In a press release on April Fool’s Day, BMW boasted the model was a new 420-hp addition to the M3 lineup before setting the record straight that it wasn’t destined for showrooms. While we may never see a production M3 pickup, there are rumors that BMW is mulling a global pickup truck to compete with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLT. Only time will tell.

Source: BMW

BMW M3 30th AnniversaryFamily 03 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarter in motion 03 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept side in motion 02 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarters 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept wheels 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept truck bed cover 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept tailpipe 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept storage 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept side in motion 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear truck bed 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarter in motion 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarter in motion 02 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarter 02 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear end 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept interior 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 07 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 06 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 05 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 04 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 03 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 02 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front interior seats 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front end 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept engine 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept center console gear shifter 2011 BMW M3 Pickup Concept badge 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept wheels 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept wheels 02 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept side profile 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept side in motion 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear three quarters 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear three quarters 02 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear three quarter in motion 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear three quarter in motion 04 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear three quarter in motion 03 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept rear end 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept interior 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept interior 02 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept gear shifter 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarters 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarter in motion 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarter in motion 06 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarter in motion 05 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarter in motion 04 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarter in motion 03 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front three quarter in motion 02 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front interior seats 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front grille 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept front end 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept exterior vents 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept engine 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept doorsill 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept center console 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept cargo 2000 BMW M3 Touring Concept badge BMW M3 E36 Compact wheels BMW M3 E36 Compact tailpipe BMW M3 E36 Compact tailpipe 02 BMW M3 E36 Compact steering wheel BMW M3 E36 Compact side mirror BMW M3 E36 Compact rear three quarter BMW M3 E36 Compact rear taillight BMW M3 E36 Compact rear end BMW M3 E36 Compact interior seats BMW M3 E36 Compact front grille BMW M3 E36 Compact front end BMW M3 E36 Compact engine BMW M3 E36 Compact engine 02 BMW M3 E36 Compact E brake BMW M3 E36 Compact badge 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept steering wheel 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept side profile 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept side in motion 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarters 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear three quarter 02 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept rear end 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept interior 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept instrument cluster 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept gear shifter 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 07 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 06 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 05 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 04 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 03 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front three quarter in motion 02 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept front end 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept engine 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept engine 02 1986 BMW M3 Pickup Concept decal BMW M3 30th AnniversaryFamily 06 BMW M3 30th AnniversaryFamily 05 BMW M3 30th AnniversaryFamily 04 BMW M3 30th AnniversaryFamily 02

The post BMW Looks Back on Four M3 Prototypes That Were Never Made appeared first on Motor Trend.



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