[Image Source: CAR]

By Gunnar Heinrich

For some Roundelphiles it was something of a shock that BMW announced it was reintroducing the M3 sedan after a ten plus year hiatus. Then again, to those familiar with BMW's 100,000 unit sales target for the current generation M3, maybe it wasn't.

So, we expect the usual from the sedan; same thumping great 414 horsepower V8, similar aero kit, and same highly sculpted nose with power-domed hood as the two-door M3. But here's what we didn't expect - the green element.

The new V8 powerplant saves weight over the previous inline-six cylinder job. And the sedan will feature regenerative-brake technology that takes some of the stress of running the alternator off the engine by using heat lost from the brakes. Somehow this translates to 10% fuel savings, too.

Comforting to know you're doing your part to conserve the environment while simultaneously trying to conserve your hide when mashing that stop pedal before entering a 25-mph-turn at 100 mph.

[Sources: CAR, GreenCarCongress.com]