BMW M3 Coupe Edition news - M3 gets tougher - 2009

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BMW has unveiled the most hardcore edition of its M3 Coupe yet, called, er, the M3 Coupe Edition.

In truth, it's not especially different to the standard M3 Coupe. But it's a bit harder, which we suspect will be enough to secure it top billing in the golf club car park: the Coupe Edition gets a stiffer suspension set-up, with a 10mm lower ride height for sharper cornering. The standard M3 isn't exactly baggy, mind, so you're looking at a seriously focussed super-coupe here.

The rest of the mechanicals are as per the standard M3 Coupe, but that's hardly a bad thing: a 414bhp naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 engine that's good for a 4.8-second 0-62mph time - or 4.6 seconds if you opt for the ‘DCT' double-clutch gearbox - and a top speed limited to 155mph.

Naturally, you get a few cosmetic touches to distinguish your Special M3 from the boggo conventional car: black wing mirrors, new alloys and some nice new stitching and plaques in the cabin.

Very nice, but we were really hoping for a truly stripped-out ‘CSL' M3 edition, with sticky tyres and, er, nothing at all on the inside bar a steering wheel and a few pedals if you're lucky. Please, BMW? 

Now watch Clarkson twin-test the BMW M3 saloon and the V8-powered Lexus IS-F: