We have good news, and we have bad news. The good
news is that BMW is launching a new special edition of the M3 sedan and M4
coupe. The bad news is that it's only making 15 examples of each, and they're
all destined for Japan.
Called the M Heat edition, the special model starts
off with the Competition package, and adds to it a whole mess of M Performance
components. That includes a front splitter, rear diffuser, and mirror covers –
all made from carbon fiber. Inside it features an Alcantara-wrapped steering
wheel, stainless steel pedals, and more carbon-fiber trim.
It's all finished off in a special shade of
Tanzanite blue, with special 20-inch alloys and the requisite special badging.
BMW Japan will charge ¥ 13,610,000 (US$ 120,720) for each M3 Sedan M Heat Edition,
and ¥ 13,850,000 (US$ 122,850) for the M4 coupe version. That's a big chunk of
change for vehicles that start at about half that in the United States, but
then the Japanese government levies a rather hefty import tax on foreign-made
cars – especially ones with big engines and BMW's 3.0-liter twin-turbo
inline-six certainly qualifies in Japanese terms.
More relevant is the premium that BMW Japan is
charging for the special edition over the models on which they're based, which
comes down to US$ 1.5m yen (US$ 13.5k) for the sedan and over 2 million yen (US$ 18k)
for the coupe.
