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model family is being upgraded by yet another fascinating player: the new
The BMW convertible, which makes its North American debut today at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The vehicle is the third body version of BMW's high-performance sports car following the coupe and sedan, offering new possibilities to experience uncompromising driving dynamics. Sharing its siblings high-revving 414-horsepower V8 and balanced chassis designed to be "faster than its engine," the motorsports arm of the German automaker, BMW M GmbH, will offer the most powerful, best performing series production M3 to the North American market.

The move to eight cylinders in the fourth generation BMW M3 provides a powerplant offering the seemingly disparate characteristics of more power, increased efficiency and reduced weight when compared with the previous six-cylinder M3 engine. Displacing 3,999 cubic centimeters (4.0 liters), the new light-alloy engine produces 414 hp at 8,300 rpm and 295 pounds-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm with 85 percent of the maximum torque available consistently through 6,500 rpm. This power output represents a 24 percent increase over the six-cylinder from the lastgeneration M3 and it comes with a seven percent weight saving. Compression ratio is dialed in to 12.0:1 and redline is set at 8,400 rpm.