Black Wiesmann MF3 - backfiring, acceleration
This is the best car you've probably never heard of it s the Wiesmann Roadster MF 3 and if you are considering a TVR Tuscan Morgan Aero 8, Noble M12 or C6 Corvette or even a new 911 cabrio Merc SL or Maserati Spyder, you should take a close look at the retro style Wiesmann pronounced Veece-man is all but obsolete under the skin, being powered by six-cylinder 338bhp BMW M3 fabulous It is also, quite simply, one of the cars impressive sport we've driven in a long time.
While it is new to us in the UK, Wiesmann was building the Roadster at its plant in Dülmen, Germany northeast since 1993 is an indication of the quality of the work he Wiesmann is the only automaker in the world to which BMW supplies parts of its M models, including shift paddles for SMG transmission II if desired, you can also specify antilock brakes and stability control that this demo car, which means that what you're looking at is, effectively, an M3 turned into a full-on sports car.
I d seen pictures of the Roadster in German magazines, but it didn t prepare me for the visual impact of the car in the flesh is extremely low and muscular with pronounced hips, and appears to be a tribute to British sports cars classics; XK120 front is mixed with Jensen CV8 lights, so it is very Healey-ish rear doors.
I first hit by little, he seemed to be, but it turned out to be a visual trick played partly over the body curving far out of sight and in part by the massive wheels of 20in diameter At the rear, BBS forged alloys are shod lowest profile tires I've ever seen that weren t mounted on a concept car - 275 25s, who flank barely enough for words Conti SportContact 2 standard, MF 3 Roadster comes with wheels 17 inches and 215 50 rubber with 20 years optional, arches are so full you can not just get a hand between the tire and the body, I know what you're thinking - that is the way and the manipulation firing bits, then.
Lift the hood and the six cylinder in-line M3 is carefully installed and located quite well to the chassis bottom, which is formed from steel tubing with aluminum plates The body is super-smooth glass fiber and the underside of the cover is thus concluded that the high side is also visible that there is hardly 100mm spring in the upper part of each leg MacPherson.
On this car cockpit is finished in suede and purple leather, which is much better than it sounds, and it Sá high level of expertise All the dials are set aside in the center with heating controls and BMW breakdown chrome finished below this SMG equipped model, you can choose between a five-speed manual or six-speed pallet M3 behind the small steering wheel and a compact display beyond contains all the lights of warning and the speedometer.
The aluminum frame cover is well and is a snap to raise and lower is certainly easier for older drivers to get in above the high threshold with folded Once installed, even lankiest find ample legroom and elbow space and although the low sling seats seem small, they appear very comfortable and supportive driving position is spot on too, with wheels, seats and pedals perfectly aligned, so that visibility is fine .
Thumb the starter button and the engine rumbles into life and moved to a clean if somewhat ambiguous inactivity that doesn t sound distinctly straight-six First select, roll and takes note quickly elegant stamp, hollow, we know the M3, but those first miles are memorable for a reason quite different.
I do not know how Wiesmann reached but despite 20in rims, tires barely sidewalls and what appears to be minimal travel suspension, the Roadster rises beautifully chassis dynamics are something of a black art, but this is a kind of alchemy it's not only acceptable for a sports car, it is flexible GT and even more remarkable those wide tires don t get the nose all over the road when the surface is jagged and bent I suspect some BMW engineers helped to refine the specifications and develop a number of very senior staff own BMW Wiesmanns the whole car has a very professional feel and finish, solid integrity of the basic structure of the ball bearing style advice corresponding rods, reels window and door made it rattles or squeaks are not humming-fuel pump, nothing irritates you quan to activate full lock - in short, it feels like a high quality production car.
It is very fast, which is to be expected, since the M Power engine is now hauling only 1180 kilograms, a whopping 390 kg unless it is in the M3, it still has this characteristic, long delivery breath that always gets stronger than the tachometer needle farm 8000rpm, and the sound is glorious Wiesmann claims a zero to 100 kmh time of 62 mph 4 9sec, which seems somewhat cautious given the phenomenal traction fat dry conditions rear Contis find SMG seems to run more smoothly, probably because it's less inertia in the car, but as in the M3, you can adjust the rate of change in its most aggressive mode, accessible when DSC is turned off, the gears slamming home but not quite the thud wince inducing what they do in the M3.
The Roadster is comfortable deploy all 338bhp Even in lower gears on wet roads, it takes very sharp throttle inputs to break the straight drive with DSC on course Treatment is well judged, too, with a balanced, fluid feel inspired confidence Get on the throttle early in a damp corner of second or third gear, and there is ample opportunity to swing the tail out, and he slips and recovers with an easy progression once you got an idea, you can play with long glides more easily than in the M3 perhaps management could be faster fraction and a little feelsome but it is in just driving fast, with good accuracy and weighting.
I have never driven a car at low volume sports, polished and well rounded in his abilities as Wiesmann It is very accomplished, very fast and desirable car that gives the wonderful M3 straight six from home it deserves course his style won t be for everyone, but it turns heads like a full-on supercar and at a price in the UK projected about 60K, it is very attractive, offering the best of both worlds exclusivity and individuality of a specialist, bespoke sports car with the integrity, quality and speed of operation of a full production car and a BMW in it.
Wiesmann MF 3 Evo, Wiesmann Roadster.