The BMW M3 is a sports version of the popular compact BMW 3-Series automobile. The car debuted in 1986 and a version of the M3 has been in production every model year since then.

The original M3 was based on the 1986 E30 3-series body but has evolved into a unique looking vehicle in its own right since then. The vehicle is currently offered in coupe, convertible and sedan models.

The big news for the 2008 BMW M3, which was recently unveiled, is that it's equipped with a 420-horsepower V8 engine, the first time the M3 has been available with a V8. The 4.0-liter light-alloy powerhouse borrows design elements from BMW's Formula 1 race team engines, and is, in fact, about 30 pounds lighter than the I6 engine it replaces.

In fact, a lot about the new M3 is high-tech and efficient. For instance, the new M3's brakes are regenerative, meaning they generate electric power when the driver applies a foot to the brake pedal and engages the braking mechanism. The energy generated by the brakes is used to power the car's on-board computer and charges the battery, conserving fuel, according to BMW.

BMW also notes that the 2008 M3 is the first production car in its segment with a roof made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (again, borrowed from the motorsport side), resulting in a lighter, more efficient and more agile vehicle with a lower center of gravity.

As far as that V8 engine is concerned, it's powerful enough to drive the M3 from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (about 60 miles per hour) in just under 5 seconds, yet efficient enough to get almost 23 miles to a gallon of gas.

Where the new M3 really excels, however, is in its styling, with a "powerdome" hood, a new front end with large air intakes, a sweptback roofline, air intake gills in the front side panels, a discreet spoiler at the rear, dual tailpipes, flared wheel arches, and "tuning fork" high-performance 19-inch wheels.