Motorsport makes heroes out of cars and the road-going versions of these can go onto become icons in their own right thanks to their racing DNA and everyday usability. That’s the case for BMW’s M3.

Back in 1986, any manufacturer wanting to enter the Group A category in the World Touring Car Championship needed to produce 5000 road going versions of the car to be eligible. So BMW built 5000 M3s in 1986 and won the championship in 1987.

The touring car became an instant hit and the first generation E30 M3 road car became highly prized because it could drop the kids at ballet and soccer in the morning and spend the afternoon at warp speed on the racetrack.

Now the fifth generation of the M3 sedan is here and it has a new sister – the M4 Coupe which has replaced the M3 Coupe. When they arrive in local BMW showrooms in August, the price of the M3 Sedan will be $156,900 and the M4 will be $166,900, minus the on-road costs.

GoAuto attended the launch of the cars in New Zealand this week and with two race tracks and more than 300km of road driving ahead of us it was the perfect opportunity to see if the M3 and the M4 continued to offer that great combination of daily driver and track-day weapon which has made the car an icon.

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