Wednesday 25th September 2013

New BMW M3 - details

Two turbos, 430hp and - shock! - a manual gearbox as standard for the new M3 and M4

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We've known for some time that BMW's forthcoming F30-based M3, and its M4 coupe brother, will be powered by a turbocharged straight-six motor. After BMW released further technical details, we now know that the bespoke M-designed engine be twin turbocharged. Power will top 430hp at 7,500rpm, with a peak torque figure that "soars far beyond 500Nm [369lb ft]," according to an official statement.

New M engine is a twin-turbo six with 430hp

The announcement brings to an end many months of speculation that pointed towards triple-turbocharging for the fifth-generation M3. A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard with a seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission available as a cost option.

In line with the series production models, the coupe will for the first time be called M4, while the saloon remains M3. The M4 concept, unveiled at Pebble Beach last month, gives us a good idea of how the final production models might look, but they will remain under wraps until the Detroit Motor Show in January, as will prices and performance figures.

Through extensive use of carbon fibre and aluminium, the engineers at BMW's M division are aiming for a sub-1,500kg kerb weight, some 80kg lighter than a like-for-like E92 M3. Combined with the switch from 4.0-litre normally-aspirated V8 to turbocharged straight-six and such measures as electronically-assisted power steering, fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 25 per cent.

Turbocharging and ePAS are both new to the M3, which first arrived 28 years ago in E30 guise. It remains to be seen if these F30-based M cars rank among BMW's best, or if the new ecologically conscious technologies strip the M3 of the livewire character that made it such a performance icon.

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Want to know more? Full feature here with insight from the development team and a ride alongside Andy Priaulx.

 

 

[Mermaid]

I expect majority of the cars will be DCT, but top marks to BMW for offering the manual option. The E92 was a thirsty beast, and so the better fuel consumption will broaden appeal.

[GroundEffect]

The perfect car?

[kambites]

<1500kg sounds good, as does a manual 'box. Shame about the turbos and EPAS but it seems inevitable these days.

[chrisw666]

In before someone mentions remaps.

[exceed]

Should remap to about 500 brake. ^^ Sorry had to be done, reckon the added turbo oomph should really add to the excitement. Shame it's the way things are going in this day and age but we shouldn't look at it as a step back rather the next step in performance.

On the road the extra torque is where it's all at!

[anonymous-user]

GroundEffect said:

The perfect car?

No, it hasn't got a pair of breasts.

Fair play to BMW though offering a manual, I didn't think they were going to bother.

[nickfrog]

I guess they have to offer a manual version in the US so they might as well sell it here too, which is superb news.

[Tuvra]

The side profile looks immense, those swollen arches are simply

[Maldini35]

Well done BMW for offering a manual.
Sub 1500kg is a step in the right direction too but it's still pretty hefty.
Sub 1400kg is when it gets interesting - but then the M3 has always been the everyday option with all the creature comforts so getting the weight down whilst keeping all the bells and whistles isn't easy.
A manual saloon with minimal options could be fun.

[BeirutTaxi]

exceed said:

On the road the extra torque is where it's all at!

Depends... Ultimately it's power (KW) that determines how quickly you can accelerate (among all the other variables e.g. weight, drag coefficient). Power the result of torque and revs so saying "extra torque is where it's at" is no more meaningful than saying "higher revs is where it's at". Both need to be quoted together to make sense (you could quote both as peak energy delivered )

I'm also of the opinion that natural aspiration and high revs are where it's at for driving thrills, but each to their own etc

[PowerfullyBuilt]

Offering a manual as standard with the DCT as an option is surely a no-brainer? No idea why other companies don't do it. Make the two-pedal philistines PAY for their idiocy - it keeps PHers and the press happy, and the customers can still get the flappy paddles to show to their mates. Win-win.

[E38Ross]

Mermaid said:

I expect majority of the cars will be DCT, but top marks to BMW for offering the manual option. The E92 was a thirsty beast, and so the better fuel consumption will broaden appeal.

though it was quite clear from one of the early spy videos at the nurburgring that it had a manual box - or at least the test mule did.

[Nicholls22]

nickfrog said:

I guess they have to offer a manual version in the US so they might as well sell it here too, which is superb news.

And yet we don't get the option on the M5 whilst the US do.

[Terminator X]

Hurrah for retaining the manual 430hp and <1500kg weight sounds good

TX.

[Mermaid]

E38Ross said:

Mermaid said:

I expect majority of the cars will be DCT, but top marks to BMW for offering the manual option. The E92 was a thirsty beast, and so the better fuel consumption will broaden appeal.

though it was quite clear from one of the early spy videos at the nurburgring that it had a manual box - or at least the test mule did.

& much better torque this time Ross .

Only the limited edition M3 E90/92 had decent torque.

[Krikkit]

E38Ross said:

Mermaid said:

I expect majority of the cars will be DCT, but top marks to BMW for offering the manual option. The E92 was a thirsty beast, and so the better fuel consumption will broaden appeal.

though it was quite clear from one of the early spy videos at the nurburgring that it had a manual box - or at least the test mule did.

Really? I remember them being DCT (or at least, the few I've watched).

Definitely kudos for BMW keeping a manual as a global option. Should be a pretty exciting engine!

[E38Ross]

BeirutTaxi said:

exceed said:

On the road the extra torque is where it's all at!

Depends... Ultimately it's power (KW) that determines how quickly you can accelerate (among all the other variables e.g. weight, drag coefficient). Power the result of torque and revs so saying "extra torque is where it's at" is no more meaningful than saying "higher revs is where it's at". Both need to be quoted together to make sense (you could quote both as peak energy delivered )

I'm also of the opinion that natural aspiration and high revs are where it's at for driving thrills, but each to their own etc

people on PH seem so blind as to what torque is and its relation to performance. Ultimately, it's more power produced at the wheels at any given time (or rpm) that makes a car quicker. An engine can make 1000lb ft of torque through it's entire rev range, but it'll be no quicker than a "normal" engine making 250lb ft of torque if it only revs to 1000rpm.

[danielj58]

E38Ross said:

though it was quite clear from one of the early spy videos at the nurburgring that it had a manual box - or at least the test mule did.

Indeed, though I imagine the DCT box lends itself quite well to the sense of urgency this engine will have.

Here's hoping they learn from Alpina and get the engine note right too

[RossP]

Good news on the manual box. I suspect my E92 M3 may be replaced by an M4 in a couple of years.

[E38Ross]

Krikkit said:

E38Ross said:

Mermaid said:

I expect majority of the cars will be DCT, but top marks to BMW for offering the manual option. The E92 was a thirsty beast, and so the better fuel consumption will broaden appeal.

though it was quite clear from one of the early spy videos at the nurburgring that it had a manual box - or at least the test mule did.

Really? I remember them being DCT (or at least, the few I've watched).

Definitely kudos for BMW keeping a manual as a global option. Should be a pretty exciting engine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcIoUdxwHb8

sounds like a manual to me