Photo: Automedia
Hello dear fast saloons and welcome to the new M3. For months now, we’ve been following our favorite compact fast saloon as the new F80 generation is being developed around the Nurburgring track and of course on the high-speed Autobahn.
Today is a very special day for us, as our spy photographers have managed to sneak a peak under the skirt as it were of the new M3. These are the very first photos of what’s lurking under the bonnet of the four-door saloon version.
It’s clearly a six-cylinder engine that marks BMW’s return to where it left off with the E46. The E90 series that followed was indeed a step in the right direction, offering better economy, power and refinement than the six-cylinder it replaces, but some fans didn’t like the high-revving V8 engine.
The new F80 M3, built on the new, much lighter 3-Series platform appears to have a twin-turbo setup as there are only two pipes feeding the intercooler. But the third turbo could be berried deep within the engine bay and might still be wielded by the mighty M3.
As for the displacement of the engine itself, opinions are divided. We’re inclined to think it’s going to be a revival of the 3.2-liter setup. However, they might uses the cylinder from the M5 and make a 3.3-liter or work with the N54 and make it a simple 3-liter, though the boss of BMW M says he wants to make something special for the fans, so using an existing setup is most likely out of the question.
As far as we know, the new M3 will debut as a lightly veiled concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and should go on sale towards the end of the year or in the summer if they really hurry it along. If you want to hear the new M3 in action, make sure to check out the video in one of our previous posts.
It’s clearly a six-cylinder engine that marks BMW’s return to where it left off with the E46. The E90 series that followed was indeed a step in the right direction, offering better economy, power and refinement than the six-cylinder it replaces, but some fans didn’t like the high-revving V8 engine.
The new F80 M3, built on the new, much lighter 3-Series platform appears to have a twin-turbo setup as there are only two pipes feeding the intercooler. But the third turbo could be berried deep within the engine bay and might still be wielded by the mighty M3.
As for the displacement of the engine itself, opinions are divided. We’re inclined to think it’s going to be a revival of the 3.2-liter setup. However, they might uses the cylinder from the M5 and make a 3.3-liter or work with the N54 and make it a simple 3-liter, though the boss of BMW M says he wants to make something special for the fans, so using an existing setup is most likely out of the question.
As far as we know, the new M3 will debut as a lightly veiled concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and should go on sale towards the end of the year or in the summer if they really hurry it along. If you want to hear the new M3 in action, make sure to check out the video in one of our previous posts.
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