BMW confirms production of just fifty-four M3 DTM Champion Editions

At the ’40 Years of M’ event, held at the Nürburgring last month, BMW announced a very special last-edition E92 M3 named ‘M3 DTM Champion Edition’ to mark the company’s clean sweep in this year’s German Touring Car (DTM) Championship.

The BMW Motorsports team in their return to the championship after a 20-year absence, won the drivers, manufacturers and team titles – comprehensively beating its rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

The French-Canadian, Bruno Spengler, beat Mercedes driver Gary Paffett in the final race, clinching the title by just four points and turning his Matt-Black M3 DTM into an overnight M Division icon.

Hence, the M3 DTM Champion Edition was born, mimicking the look of Spengler’s race car, with its Frozen Black metallic paint, matt black wheels, dark chrome trim with carbon flaps and gurney.

We think they should have stopped right there, unfortunately the M designers continued by adding an M stripe design over the CFRP roof and boot lid, BMW M logo to the rear of the front wheel arches and decals in the rear side windows. Expect to see a replica of this look affixed to some 320d SE parked outside your local Halfords.

Inside, the door sill strips replicate Spengler’s helmet design and the carbon-fibre interior trim strip bears the newly crowned champion’s signature and the serial number of each limited edition car.

The car itself is based on the Competition Package M3, with its Alcantara steering wheel, handbrake lever embroidered with “M Power” lettering, and extended black Novillo leather trim with contrasting Palladium Silver features. Standard features also include M Drive, M DCT Drivelogic, the M Driver’s Package, Professional navigation system, heated seats and Park Distance Control.

As a special bonus for the 54 customers of this car, BMW will provide the chance to attend the BMW M Fascination Nordschleife driver training course under the watchful eye of none other than Bruno Spengler. How’s that for some future name-dropping kudos..?

The BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition will be built from February 2013, and is priced from €99,000.00 including VAT in Germany (equivalent to £80,400).