Bitter Type 3: Which Version to Buy and Why
The Bitter Type 3 buyer’s choice comes down to engine tune and transmission rather than body style or generation: the catalogue records one Cabrio generation produced from 1987 to 1992, with six versions. The 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT were offered with 174 hp or 201 hp, while the 4.0 MT appears with either 212 hp or 268 hp.
The Bitter Type 3 buyer’s choice comes down to engine tune and transmission rather than body style or generation: the catalogue records one Cabrio generation produced from 1987 to 1992, with six versions. The 3.0 MT and 3.0 AT were offered with 174 hp or 201 hp, while the 4.0 MT appears with either 212 hp or 268 hp. Every version is Gasoline-powered, RWD, naturally aspirated, and fitted with a front, longitudinal Inline 6 engine. On the supplied figures, the 268 hp 4.0 MT is the quickest and fastest choice; the 201 hp 3.0 MT offers the strongest power-to-weight result among the 3.0 versions; and the 201 hp 3.0 AT is the automatic option for buyers who prioritize power over acceleration.
Bitter Type 3 generation and version changes
The single Bitter Type 3 generation ran from 1987 to 1992 as a Cabrio and contains six catalogue entries. There is no separate sedan generation in the supplied data, despite searches for “Bitter Type 3 sedan.” The earliest specifications include the 174 hp 3.0 MT, the 174 hp 3.0 AT, and the 212 hp 4.0 MT. More powerful 201 hp 3.0 MT and 201 hp 3.0 AT versions started in 1990, while the 268 hp 4.0 MT started in 1991.
The later 3.0 engine specification increased output from 174 hp to 201 hp, a gain of 27 hp, and torque from 240 Nm to 270 Nm, a gain of 30 Nm. It also changed from 2 to 4 valves per cylinder. Kerb weight rose from 1,490 kg to 1,525 kg, adding 35 kg. The later manual retained the 7.6-second acceleration figure but raised top speed from 227 km/h to 240 km/h.
The two 4.0 MT specifications share 3,983 cc displacement, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and 1,600 kg kerb weight. The later specification has 268 hp instead of 212 hp, an increase of 56 hp, and 395 Nm instead of 320 Nm, an increase of 75 Nm. Its top speed is 250 km/h rather than 225 km/h, while both record 0–100 km/h in 6.5 seconds.
Bitter Type 3 engines and specs
Because identical version names occur more than once, power is essential when identifying the desired Type 3.
| Version | Output | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders and layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 MT, 174 hp | 174 hp | 240 Nm | 2,969 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| 3.0 AT, 174 hp | 174 hp | 240 Nm | 2,969 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 3.0 MT, 201 hp | 201 hp | 270 Nm | 2,969 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| 3.0 AT, 201 hp | 201 hp | 270 Nm | 2,969 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | 4-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 4.0 MT, 212 hp | 212 hp | 320 Nm | 3,983 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
| 4.0 MT, 268 hp | 268 hp | 395 Nm | 3,983 cc | Gasoline | 6, Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
The 174 hp 3.0 engine produces about 58.6 hp per litre, while the 201 hp tune produces about 67.7 hp per litre. The 212 hp 4.0 engine delivers about 53.2 hp per litre, and the 268 hp version delivers about 67.3 hp per litre. The 201 hp 3.0 MT therefore narrowly leads the range in power per litre, although the 268 hp 4.0 MT has substantially greater total power and torque.
All six versions use Distributed injection (multi-point). The 3.0 MT with 174 hp and the 3.0 AT with 174 hp have 2 valves per cylinder. The 201 hp 3.0 MT, 201 hp 3.0 AT, and 268 hp 4.0 MT have 4 valves per cylinder, while the 212 hp 4.0 MT has 2 valves per cylinder.
Bitter Type 3 performance and economy
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 MT, 174 hp | 7.6 sec | 227 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 3.0 AT, 174 hp | 7.6 sec | 227 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 3.0 MT, 201 hp | 7.6 sec | 240 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 3.0 AT, 201 hp | 8.4 sec | 235 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 4.0 MT, 212 hp | 6.5 sec | 225 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 4.0 MT, 268 hp | 6.5 sec | 250 km/h | not measured | not measured | not measured |
The 4.0 MT versions share the best 0–100 km/h result at 6.5 seconds. That is 1.1 seconds quicker than either 3.0 MT and the 174 hp 3.0 AT, and 1.9 seconds quicker than the 201 hp 3.0 AT. The 268 hp 4.0 MT also has the highest top speed at 250 km/h, exceeding the 201 hp 3.0 MT by 10 km/h and the 212 hp 4.0 MT by 25 km/h.
The manual and automatic 174 hp 3.0 versions have identical listed performance: 7.6 seconds to 100 km/h and 227 km/h. With 201 hp, however, the 3.0 MT reaches 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and 240 km/h, whereas the 3.0 AT takes 8.4 seconds and reaches 235 km/h. The manual is therefore 0.8 seconds quicker and 5 km/h faster on these figures.
City, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured for every version. CO₂ output and environmental class are also not measured, so the supplied data cannot support an mpg, emissions, or economy-based recommendation.
Bitter Type 3 dimensions, weight, and practical specifications
Body dimensions are not measured in the supplied data. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every Bitter Type 3 version. Ground clearance is 140 mm across the range, and every version has a 75-litre fuel tank.
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 MT, 174 hp | 1,490 kg | 1,790 kg | 140 mm | 75 litres | not measured |
| 3.0 AT, 174 hp | 1,490 kg | 1,790 kg | 140 mm | 75 litres | not measured |
| 3.0 MT, 201 hp | 1,525 kg | 1,850 kg | 140 mm | 75 litres | not measured |
| 3.0 AT, 201 hp | 1,525 kg | 1,850 kg | 140 mm | 75 litres | not measured |
| 4.0 MT, 212 hp | 1,600 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 75 litres | not measured |
| 4.0 MT, 268 hp | 1,600 kg | not measured | 140 mm | 75 litres | not measured |
The 174 hp 3.0 versions carry about 8.56 kg per horsepower. The 201 hp 3.0 versions improve that figure to about 7.59 kg per horsepower. The 212 hp 4.0 MT has about 7.55 kg per horsepower, while the 268 hp 4.0 MT leads at about 5.97 kg per horsepower.
Suspension and brake specifications do not distinguish the versions: all have Independent, spring suspension at the front and rear, Ventilated disc front brakes, and Ceramic rear brakes.
Which Bitter Type 3 version should you buy?
Choose the 268 hp 4.0 MT when outright performance is the priority. Its 395 Nm is the highest torque figure, its 250 km/h maximum is the highest top speed, and its 6.5-second 0–100 km/h time matches the quickest result in the catalogue. It also has the best weight-to-power figure at about 5.97 kg per horsepower.
Choose the 201 hp 3.0 MT for the strongest numerical compromise. It is 75 kg lighter than either 4.0 MT and has the best specific output at about 67.7 hp per litre. Compared with the 174 hp 3.0 MT, it adds 27 hp and 30 Nm while gaining 35 kg, and its top speed rises by 13 km/h. Its 7.6-second acceleration figure remains unchanged.
Choose the 174 hp 3.0 AT if an Automatic gearbox matters more than having the later engine tune. It matches the corresponding 174 hp 3.0 MT at 7.6 seconds and 227 km/h. Choose the 201 hp 3.0 AT if the Automatic gearbox and the additional 27 hp and 30 Nm are more important than the measured performance comparison: despite the extra output, it is 0.8 seconds slower to 100 km/h than the 174 hp 3.0 AT, though its top speed is 8 km/h higher.
The 212 hp 4.0 MT is the acceleration-focused alternative to the later 4.0 MT. It matches the 268 hp version’s 6.5-second sprint but gives up 56 hp, 75 Nm, and 25 km/h in top speed. With no purchase-price or fuel-consumption data supplied, there is no numerical basis for claiming that it is cheaper to buy or run. Reliability and problem records are also not measured, so neither can be used to rank the versions.