---
title: "Watch a Speeding Leopard 2A4 Tank Completely Obliterate a BMW 3 Series"
description: "A video showing a speeding Leopard tank destroy a BMW 3 Series at the Strong Europe Tank Challenge has gone viral."
date: "2019-03-19"
modified: "2019-03-19"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/27019/watch-a-speeding-leopard-2a4-tank-completely-obliterate-a-bmw-3-series"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "BMW"
  - "luxury"
  - "m3"
  - "sedan"
  - "sports car"
---

# Watch a Speeding Leopard 2A4 Tank Completely Obliterate a BMW 3 Series

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/03/tank-crushes-bmw-new.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Every four years, the Summer Olympics showcase the world's greatest athletes competing in some of mankind's most fundamental sports: Running. Throwing things. As of 2020, climbing. But none of those hold a candle to the action at the annual Strong Europe Tank Challenge in Germany, where tanker teams from armies around the globe gather to see who can best crush an old BMW 3 Series.

There's obviously a lot more to the event in terms of skill competitions, expertise, and building camaraderie between participating nations. [It's a decathlon of sorts for tank crews,](<https://www.twz.com/21496/watch-us-army-abrams-tanks-in-world-war-ii-paint-crush-cars-at-german-competition>) and a NATO-approved foil to [Russia's similar Tank Biathlon gathering.](<https://www.twz.com/11253/russia-challenges-u-s-tankers-to-compete-in-its-annual-tank-biathlon>) So delegations come for the armed geopolitics, and they stay for the smashing of cars. That part isn't an official competition so much as a chance to have some fun.

The clip that's been spreading like wildfire on Facebook and elsewhere recently shows a German-made [Leopard 2A4](<https://www.armyrecognition.com/germany_german_army_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/leopard_2a4_main_battle_tank_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_pictures_video.html>) tank storming down a dirt path toward a mid-1990s BMW 3 Series sedan. With a top speed of about 45 mph, the tank looks and sounds pretty much maxed out charging at the E36, its 1,479-horsepower MTU MB 873 diesel mill roaring with unstoppable doom.

https://youtube.com/embed/hC4hbh-yWW4

The collision is as brutal as you'd expect. In an instant, the BMW sublimates into a cloud of shrapnel. The impact briefly sends the 136,000-pound Leopard airborne as it flies forward unfazed.

[People have been crushing cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/16244/you-can-pay-to-drive-around-a-military-style-tank-and-crush-cars-in-florida-for-fun>) with tanks for as long as the two have co-existed. What's different about this clip is that we've never seen a tank running full tilt at one like some sort of [*Mythbusters* episode](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26231/toyota-mr2-fans-swarm-mythbusters-jr-online-after-show-crushes-original-model-with-giant-domino>) brought to life by the military industrial complex. It's dramatic, impressive, and exactly what you pictured when you re-enacted this very collision with Hot Wheels and a model Patton as a kid.

For more information on the Strong Europe Tank Challenge, [check out this article](<https://www.twz.com/21496/watch-us-army-abrams-tanks-in-world-war-ii-paint-crush-cars-at-german-competition>) from our experts at *The War Zone* giving a rundown of last year's results. While it's not clear which year the BMW clip dates from, the competition only dates back to 2016. Videos from last year's event show plenty of other cars meeting the business end of a tank, albeit at slightly slower speeds.

https://youtube.com/embed/JwJFnnAvZnY

*Got a tip? Email the author: kyle@thedrive.com*

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)