2011 BMW M3 ”Frozen Gray” Special Edition – Official Photos and Info

As the 25th anniversary of the M3 approaches—the car was introduced in Europe in 1986 but didn’t make its way to the U.S. until the following year—BMW is launching a limited-run version of the current coupe. Teased earlier this week, the Frozen Gray special edition, so named for its signature paint, is loaded with special appearance and equipment upgrades. There will be 30 copies, all bound for America.

The namesake matte paint and the red-and-black leather interior come from the BMW Individual catalog. For now, this is the only M3 in the U.S. to offer the combo, although we suspect the paint will become more widely available in the future. All Frozen Grays come with BMW’s seven-speed, dual-clutch M DCT transmission and are equipped with the new Competition package. The package provides lightweight 19-inch wheels that widen the track with a more dramatic offset, a 0.4-inch suspension drop, reprogrammed electronic damping, and a higher threshold for the stability control.

The special edition bundles the Premium package (power-folding mirrors, BMW Assist, a garage-door opener, carbon-fiber-look leather trim) and the Technology package (M Drive, the comfort access keyless ignition system, the iDrive navigation system with traffic information, and voice recognition). Heated front seats, parking sensors, and an upgraded sound system with satellite radio and iPod connectivity are standard.

Although steep, the $78,900 price—including a $1300 gas-guzzler tax—is only about four grand more than that of a similarly loaded M3 coupe and includes one day’s admission to the BMW Performance Driving School in South Carolina. Orders can be placed by calling 800-245-4269 on June 21 beginning at 11:30 a.m. EDT. We expect all 30 to be sold well before 11:31.