By: ROBINSON/BEINTEMA AUTOFILES

Hot on the heels of the arrival of a new M3 Coupe, BMW has released details of the four-door M3 Sedan. While four generations of M3 have been built, this is only the second time an M3 Sedan has been offered.

Thirteen years after the launch of the original M3 Sedan, the new car offers the same levels of scintillating performance as the latest Coupe.  With the added practicality of the four-door bodyshell, the new M3 Sedan will appeal to an even broader audience.

Like the Coupe, the engine in the new M3 Sedan develops 420 hp. The 3,999cc V8-power unit redlines at 8,400 rpm but to highlight the real-world driving flexibility of the engine, 85 per cent of torque is available over an engine range of 6,500rpm.  

Power is transferred to the road by BMW M's six-speed manual gearbox and variable M differential. This conveys up to 100 per cent of available power to the wheel with most grip.

The M3 Sedan completes the sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, only 0.1 seconds slower than the Coupe, before going onto a limited top speed of 155mph.

In common with all new BMW models launched in 2007, the new M3 Sedan features Brake Energy Regeneration. This technology uses an Intelligent Alternator Control and Absorbent Glass Mat battery to recognize when the engine is on over-run and activates the alternator to charge the battery with what would previously have been wasted energy.

Although visually similar to the 3 Series Sedan, almost all the bodyshell parts are different, with the emphasis on the sporting dynamics of the car.  

So much so that the M3 Sedan features the same, sleek front-end design from the Coupe.

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