BMW M3 Coupe news - - BBC Top Gear

BMW has announced the price of its new M3, which will come in at £50,625.

Handily, that's 50 quid less than the M3's main rival, the Audi RS4.

The M3 is also Rizla-close to the RS4 in other key areas, with an identical 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds and limited top speed of 155mph.

The BMW's 4.0-litre V8 may be fractionally smaller in capacity than the Audi's 4.2-litre unit, but the M3 just wins the power competition with 420bhp to the RS4's 414bhp.

However, the BMW still posts the marginally better fuel economy figure of 22.8mpg to the Audi's 20.9mpg, although we doubt many buyers will be studying this one too closely.

The M3 hits UK showrooms in September. But the entire allocation is sold out well into 2008, so get your name down fast.