In 1987, Bavaria’s premier automaker brought a high-revving four-cylinder homologation special based on its E30 3-series to the United States. The box-flared and bewinged 1988 BMW M3 stole the hearts of schoolboys across the country and cemented the M brand in the minds of budding enthusiasts in a way that the M1 and M5 hadn’t.
The former was a ’70s oddball supercar, a cool thing that hadn’t quite become the fetishized object it is today, while the M5 arrived as a rad sedan during a time in America when a car still required two doors to be considered truly sporty. So at this year’s SEMA show, a celebration of everything American—for better and for worse—about the automobile, BMW is trotting out a special-edition M3 to celebrate the past three decades.
Set to be introduced on Tuesday, the tribute car, officially known as the 2018 BMW M3 30 Years American Edition, was developed as a collaboration between BMW Group Designworks and the company’s Individual division. There will be only one car. Ironically, the E30 M3 wasn’t offered as a four-door, while the current M3 is only offered in quad-portal configuration because its former coupe and convertible duties have, of course, been usurped by the M4.
Judging from the teaser images BMW has provided, the exterior of the 30 Years American seems to give up stylish malice in the hood, forgoing the production car’s bulging power dome while adding it in the lower front fascia. We dig the treatment. It’s simpler, yet more racetrack aggro than the cavalcade of planes gracing the stock model’s lower schnoz. What else did the Bavarians get up to with this one-off? We’ll find out tomorrow.
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