1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution
As the high-profile M3 became the most successful touring car of all time, its civilian version became increasingly exciting. To stay on par with seasonal developments, BMW Motorsports released updated versions each year. These cars mimicked the performance changes required to keep the Group A race car ahead of the competition. The last and most potent evolution of these was the M3 Sport Evolution.
When the Touring rules in Germany and France increased capacity limits to 2.5 liters in 1990, BMW endowed the M3 with its largest engine. In order to make full use of the 2.5 liter limit, they not only increased the stroke of the 2.3 liter unit from 84 to 87 millimeters, but also increased the bores of the four cylinders from 93.4 millimeters each to 95.5 millimeters. This reduced the width between the cylinders to just 4.5 millimeters. But success proved them right. The engines withstood the stresses and strains of touring car racing even at maximum output without any problem.
To meet homologation, BMW released a road-going model that featured this new 238 bhp, 2.5 liter engine which used sodium-cooled exhaust valves, a larger intake tract and a signature red spark plug wires. Aside from the engine, each car had an adjustable front apron and rear wing, as well as a special interior with Sparco seats and suede controls. There was no air-conditioning or electric windows and each of the 600 cars had a numbered plaque on the centre console.
In Detail
| type | Series Production Car |
| built at | Munich, Germany |
| production | 600 |
| price $ | $ 56,000 |
| engine | Inline-4 |
| position | Front Longituidnal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | DOHC 4 Valves / Cylinder |
| fuel feed | Bosch Electronic Fuel Injection |
| displacement | 2467 cc / 150.5 in³ |
| bore | 95.0 mm / 3.74 in |
| stroke | 87.0 mm / 3.43 in |
| compression | 10.2:1 |
| power | 177.5 kw / 238 bhp @ 7000 rpm |
| specific output | 96.47 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 198.33 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 240.0 nm / 177.0 ft lbs @ 4750 rpm |
| redline | 7300 |
| body / frame | Unit Steel |
| driven wheels | Front Engine / RWD |
| wheel type | Cast Alloy |
| front tires | F 225/45ZR-16 |
| rear tires | R 225/45ZR-16 |
| front brakes | Vented Discs w/ ABS |
| rear brakes | Vented Discs w/ABS, Power Assist |
| front wheels | F 40.6 x 19.1 cm / 15.9 x 7.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 40.6 x 19.1 cm / 15.9 x 7.5 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion |
| f suspension | MacPherson Struts w/Coil Springs, Tube Shocks, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Semi-Trailing Arms w/Coil Springs, Tube Shocks, Anti-Roll Bar |
| curb weight | 1200 kg / 2646 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2565 mm / 100.9 in |
| front track | 1416 mm / 55.7 in |
| rear track | 1430 mm / 56.3 in |
| length | 4345 mm / 171.1 in |
| width | 1680 mm / 66.1 in |
| height | 1370 mm / 53.9 in |
| transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| gear ratios | 3.29:1, 2.08:1, 1.45:1, 1.04:1, 0.72:1 |
| final drive | 4.23:1 |
| top speed | ~248.0 kph / 154.1 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~6.3 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~16.0 seconds |
| 0 – 1/4 mile | ~14.7 seconds |
