Ezra Dyer of Automobile Magazine once suggested that "...car magazines generally regard the M3 the same way a four-year-old regards Santa Claus." Car and Driver praised the M3 so much that they placed the E90 M3 in first place in a comparison test against the Nissan GT-R and the Porsche 911 Turbo.
BMW also built armoured versions of the 7 series vehicles.
The models have protection levels VR6/VR7. Security features include laminated windows, carbon fibre reinforced armour plating, under body armour, emergency front windscreen exit, lowered door windows, run flat tires.
The "M" nameplate has been used on various mid-size cars from Infiniti. This includes the M30 Coupe/Convertible, and the M45 and M35 sedans, both of which are unrelated to the M30. The first-generation of the sedans are rebadged versions of the Japanese-spec Nissan Gloria, and later generations are based on the Nissan Fuga.
The California represents a number of firsts for Ferrari:
* The first front engined Ferrari with a V8 * The first to feature a 7-speed dual clutch transmission * The first with a folding metal roof * The first with multi-link rear suspension * The first with direct petrol injection.
According to some sources originally started as a concept for a new Maserati, the resulting expense to produce the car needed the Ferrari badge to justify the ideal return on the investment. The California represents a new, fourth model range for the company.
