Tuesday 19th December 2017

Next BMW M3 spy shots

New 'G80' version is due in 2020 - here's your first look

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What with the arguments about the odd noise the standard car makes, those weird orange bits on the GTS and just how expensive the CS is, it's easy to forget that the regular BMW M3 was launched more than three and half years ago. It means that the earliest cars are now teetering temptingly close to £30K, and also that the next M3 isn't too far off.

Can you guess what it is yet?

These are the first spy shots of the sixth-generation, 'G80' M3, due to arrive at some point in 2020. According to Autocar it is going to use the new 'CLAR' architecture also seen in the 5 Series, but won't use the carbon core seen in the 7 Series and i8. Gets expensive then, see? The same argument applies to both all-wheel drive and four-wheel steer as well, the M3's more junior ranking in the M hierarchy ensuring that it won't be quite the techfest of an M5 or M760Li.

A technology that could well feature in the next M3 is the water injection system seen in the M4 GTS, if the packaging issues around shoving a water tank in the boot (in a regular production car) can be solved. The engine is expected to be an evolution of the S55 twin-turbo straight-six currently used; a hybrid is said to be unlikely, but then a replacement model can't have less power than any previous one - remember than a CS is currently 460hp, so shall we call it 475hp for the G80?

The big arches are coming, right?

These spy shots don't reveal a great deal, although perhaps we should simply be glad in BMW's current situation that the M3 is remaining a saloon and not becoming a two-door SUV or something. Note on this car the four exhaust pipes, some black painted Comp Pack wheels and four very chunky brake discs. Other than that we're seeing a 3 Series, but do let us know if anything has been missed...

With some time before the M3 reaches the production stage, plenty could change in the next couple of years. What would you like to see from the F80 replacement? The current car has proved pretty divisive, so there must surely be some recommendations forthcoming... We'll suggest improved steering as a starter - what about you?

[Spyshots: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien, additional info from Autocar]

[Uncle Ron]

It's quite ridiculous to say it but 475HP puts it behind the Giulia and C63S of today's crop - in 3 years time that's going to be well out of date. I'd expect a tickled Giulia by then and also a tweak on the C Class which will go to 550PS + comfortably.

Admittedly I've not driven the current M3 but reviews say it struggles with traction. If I were BMW I'd take the weight penalty of the M5's 4WD system and go to 520PS which should have it keeping up with the other 2 without treading on the M5s toes.

[Uncle Ron]

GTEYE said:

Uncle Ron said:

It's quite ridiculous to say it but 475HP puts it behind the Giulia and C63S of today's crop - in 3 years time that's going to be well out of date. I'd expect a tickled Giulia by then and also a tweak on the C Class which will go to 550PS + comfortably.

Admittedly I've not driven the current M3 but reviews say it struggles with traction. If I were BMW I'd take the weight penalty of the M5's 4WD system and go to 520PS which should have it keeping up with the other 2 without treading on the M5s toes.

But even if it had 600PS - would that automatically make it better? I think not.

Its just Top Trumps on a grand scale.

When you're past say 300PS on a road car, in the vast majority of most people's normal road conditions, this obsession with more and more power is largely just a vanity issue.

I don't disagree but let's face it, vanity/pub ammo is a big part of this kind of purchase for a lot of people, quite often over and above driving dynamics.

If they kept the power the same but shed 150kg, went back to Hydraulically assisted steering and made the car better to drive would it sell more? I think not!

[Uncle Ron]

Tim bo said:

Uncle Ron said:

It's quite ridiculous to say it but 475HP puts it behind the Giulia and C63S of today's crop

Well the M3 would be equated to the C63, not the S variant. As such the C63 produces 476HP, so the new M3 is just 1 HP behind.

OK fair do's that's definitely a fairer comparison but I'd venture that in 2020 the C class will have had a facelift/replacement to re-instate the difference. It's all moot anyway, I'd buy the Alfa and get used to waiting for the AA.