AC Schnitzer's GP3.10: When Good BMWs Go Bad
Ah, the AC Schnitzer GP3.10, a car that makes you question everything you thought you knew about tuning, style, and possibly even life itself. Introduced back in the halcyon days of 2007, this one-off special based on the BMW E92 coupe is… well, it’s something.
The Tech Stuff: Fancy, But Why?
Under the hood, AC Schnitzer decided to shoehorn in the V10 engine from the M5/M6, because apparently, the regular 3 Series was just too pedestrian. And not just any V10, but a bivalent one that runs on both gasoline and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). Because when you think of a high-performance Bimmer, you obviously think of alternative fuels, right?
The car makes 552 HP and 540 Nm of torque, which is impressive until you remember that it’s hauling around all the extra weight of a dual-fuel system and some truly questionable aesthetic choices. It’ll do 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 318.1 km/h, which is great, but it’s still a BMW with a spoiler on its shark fin antenna. Let that sink in.
Brakes, Suspension, and Wheels: The Good Stuff
In fairness, AC Schnitzer did kit out the GP3.10 with some serious hardware. The brakes are massive, the adjustable suspension is race-tested, and the wheels are… well, they’re certainly large and in charge. The front gets 20-inch rims with 245/30 ZR 20 tires, and the rear gets even bigger 20-inch rims with 315/25 ZR 20 tires. Because when your car looks like this, subtlety is clearly not the goal.
The “Design”: A Masterclass in Excess
And now, the design. Oh, the design. Where to begin? The bodywork looks like it was inspired by every bad tuner trend of the early 2000s, with a special nod to cheap Chinese aftermarket parts. There’s chrome. There’s a spoiler on the shark fin antenna (because, why not?). There are air intakes with “characteristic chrome ribs” and a rear roof wing with a carbon centre part. It’s all very...bold.
The interior is a cacophony of leather, aluminum, and more leather, with a dash of mineral green paint thrown in for good measure. It’s like AC Schnitzer threw the entire accessory catalog at this car, just to see what would stick.
In Conclusion: A Car Only Its Creator Could Love
So there you have it, the AC Schnitzer GP3.10: a car that’s fast, flashy, and utterly perplexing. It’s a testament to what can happen when tuners go wild, and a reminder that just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.
But hey, at least it’s not boring. And in the world of high-performance BMWs, that’s saying something.
