China’s auto sales dwarfed America’s last year, and that gap is only set to widen this year. The importance of the Chinese market explains why BMW is now releasing another special edition M3 for the middle kingdom. Last year’s M3 Tiger edition would have been suitable to the present American tabloid news cycle, but Chinese shoppers this year instead receive a China-only M3 Matte edition.
Just as the name implies, the Matte edition sports the same matte finish as the limited-run M3 Frozen Gray coupe that made it to our shores last year. The new car’s rich matte finish is achieved not by wrapping the car in dull vinyl, but rather by laying down a coat of metallic paint and topping it off with a matte clearcoat. Unlike the Frozen Gray coupes—which came only in, yes, frozen gray—the Matte edition will give customers the choice of two colors, gunmetal grey and black. The cars will also feature fender vents and tailpipes trimmed in black chrome. The already-businesslike M3 interior gets upgraded with carbon-fiber dashboard trim and a carbon-fiber styled finish on the leather seats, which also add red stitching. The mechanicals of the Matte edition have been left alone, and it “makes do” with the same 414-hp 4.0-liter V8 as the standard M3.
High-performance cars are rarely low-maintenance affairs, but the Matte edition M3, like the Frozen Gray M3, takes ownership to the next level. Automated car washes and “strong rubbing” during cleaning are essentially off limits, and insects, tree sap, bird bombs, and road tar have to be removed immediately. In the U.S., failure to comply with these rules could result in a voided warranty; there’s no word yet on the commands for Chinese buyers of the Matte edition car. Now, BMW, how about sending this sexy beast to the U.S.?
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