Next-Gen BMW M3 Spied at the Nurburgring, Exhaust Sound Hints at Auto Gearbox

It's not unusual for a BMW prototype to be seen testing at the Nurburgring. However, the man behind the wheel of the G80 M3 is taking things more seriously than most of his driver counterparts. You can see how the tires are being tortured in some of the shots of the YouTube video released by Automotive Mike.

The engine also sounds pretty good, though BMW probably hasn't given the exhaust a final pass. Known internally as the S58, this derivative of the normal inline-6 found in the M340i will produce up to 510 horsepower right at the launch of the car. That's the output for the M3 Competition, though the normal model should boast just 480 HP.

What's interesting is the throttle blips sound less savage here, which could be due to a change in gearboxes. Smaller M cars are known for their DCT gearboxes. However, the X3 M uses an 8-speed auto before splitting power between the front and rear axles. We know that the M3 will also have available AWD, so it could share the whole powertrain here. We don't feel the need to act surprised here. Audi RS4/RS5: standard AWD and 8-speed auto. Alfa Romeo Giulia QV: available AWD and 8-speed auto.

Company officials have also confirmed that a manual model will be offered. This is believed to be called the M3 Pure, offering RWD and 460 HP in a back-to-basic setup that rivals Porsche models.

It's a bit early to talk about design since the M3 will debut around the middle of 2020. But we can see the super-sized brakes, flared out fenders and a potentially larger grille.