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.

[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.

[Mermaid]

Nors said:

Apart from the significant torque jump over the current model, 430bhp is not a huge amount more bhp over the current 414bhp. This has to be the smallest incremental increase of any new M3 model?

Perhaps the power war between Audi and BMW at least may be over as previously mentioned when the B8 RS4 was launched. The latest RS4 having a nominal increase over it's previous version also.

In standard form. But with a bit of fettling will soon eclipse the 9 % hike in power for the latest GT3 and look forward to to these battling it out at the 'Ring on TF days.

[Mermaid]

E38Ross said:

Mitch2.0 said:

I agree, I think 440-450 would have placed it in the market a little better, however perhaps they've left room to release an 'evo' version with 450ish in a few years time?

In fairness, it weighs considerably less than its rivals. The RS4 isn't really a direct rival.

& does the RS4 even produce 450ps? Isn't the B8 version simply the same as the B7 version, but higher revving?

[Mermaid]

Davey S2 said:

430 bhp.

In an M3.

Wow.

E90 CRT & the E92 GTS with 450ps & NA.

[Mermaid]

hondansx said:

This sounds like it is going to be a corker.

The E92 moved away from driving like a sports car, and although it had a wonderful engine, the fuel consumption was a joke. Combined with a lower kerb weight, i'm failing to see how this car won't tick all the boxes.

A great one car solution., I expect it to be a far greater success than the E9X M3. An M3 Touring.

[Mermaid]

kambites said:

Dirty said:

Is it just me or does it make no sense at all to call the 4 door car the M3 and the 3 door car the M4?

Do you think the 7-series should have seven doors?

It'd make the 1-series an interesting car, too.



ETA: Besides, since when has there been a 3-door M3? It's a saloon not a hatch.

The 4 hatch could have worked well.

[Mermaid]

bencharles said:

BTW you are all boring me to death with this TORQUE/POWER/ WEIGHT BLAH BLAH BLAH. If it is quicker who cares how. As long as it is faster.

& feels faster

[Mermaid]

Amirhussain said:

Too many people torquing about stuff they don't know anything about.

Ross is good, and deserves a thread on torque.

[Mermaid]

Cayman R territory

[Mermaid]

Lowtimer said:

Correct. The new M3 / M4 is cheaper than the E46 allowing for inflation.

The current value of £7000 from 1972 - E9 CSL new price - circa £65000. So about right. A house bought them would probably be worth £300k

991 GT3 is an absolute bargain compared to the 996GT3 from 2003.

[Mermaid]

R5YUP said:

Zod said:

I also paid £49k in December 2002 for a very high spec SMG car after my first manual car was stolen. Cheap those E46s were not!

Crikey, how!! They were £38k base in 2002 and all you could really spec of any real financial note was SMG, Nav, 19's and HK!

Individual?

Reading about Zod's fine taste, he probably specced a fridge in the car for his Dom Perignon, Mark Levinson music system, carbon fibre interior etc

[Mermaid]

greygoose said:

Why would you want a sunroof ruining the cf roof?

CF in 2002?

[Mermaid]

torres del paine said:

My next car will be DCT for faster driving, which is what I'm in it for. But then I'm a modernist and like change. Bring on the M4 with turbos, tuning potential, more grunt and aggression. I like that it's a million miles away from the E30 and normally aspirated engines of the past. bring it on!

The E30 wasthe 80's environment, the M4 suits today's better - for me anyway.

[Mermaid]

E38Ross said:

Except the 1M isn't as fast as an M3 if you're going for it. Up to about 100mph or so admittedly there's not a great deal of difference but once drag really increases the M3 is noticeably quicker.

Hence the 1M takes around 5-6 seconds longer to get from 100-150mph

Have you driven any of these cars