German Car Forum

BMW has gone direct-injection and turbo crazy, an obsession that should manifest under the hood of the next M3 as a hairier version of the turbocharged six BMW uses elsewhere. That twin-turbo 3.0-liter now makes up to 335 hp in new higher-performance versions of the Z4 and 3-series, while a single-turbo six good for 300 horses replaces the twin-turbo in most other applications. This frees the twin-turbo’s output to head for the moon. Having crossed the 400-hp threshold with the V-8 in the current M3, we don’t think BMW will go back.

Less than 400 hp is possible, however, if the engineers at M decide to go really crazy. We anticipate an overall lightening of the M3 in its next generation, and if that weight-loss plan is particularly successful, we could see a turbo four-cylinder installed in the next M3. The first M3 was powered by a four-cylinder, and if sufficient performance levels can be achieved in a lighter car, there’s a possibility BMW goes back to a four-pot—which would further slash loads of weight from the engine room. And less weight means less power to achieve the same performance—not to mention better handling.


Fast Forward 2020: Performance Icons of Tomorrow - Feature - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

next gen M3 + Turbo 4 Zylinder = this Jounalist fail

IF power LESS THAN '400' AND tweight NOT LESS THAN '1450 KGS EC'
ELSE IF
power LESS THAN '350' AND weight NOT LESS than '1350 KGS EC'
THEN
sales EQUALS '0'

With the existence of the 1-Series coupe the next M3 will unlikely house a four cylinder engine, let alone lose much weight.

Where's my box of sea salt?

My prediction: V6, 8 speed automatic, AWD and E-diff

A turbo-charged 6-Cylinder engine with 6-speed manual or 7-speed fancy-auto tranny is my guess!

If I put my "Future thinking " into effect I would suggest something like the Vision Efficient Dynamics. A basic powered combustion engine with performance boosted by electricity?

For the F32 the groundwork has been laid to the same effect as the X5/X6 M will benefit the M5 and M6 in two different specifications , The M1 will be the foundation for the F32. Although the basis there will be key differences to both just as the X5/X6M and M5 will have it's fair share of individuality.

So the next M3 will have the N54 engine?.

No N54 belongs to the Past, the limited Si version are only here to celebrate it.

A small, high-rev, turbo V8 based on the existing engine??

M

No that's too much M.

Come again? You meant I6, right?

^ Nope. klier doesn't get his I's and V's mixed up.

Think of the possibilities. BMW has invested a lot of money in the reverse-flow, vee-located, twin-scroll, twin turbo with cross-flow manifold, V8 engine. [Phew, excuse the mouthful]

In exactly the same way that BMW lopped two cylinders off the S85 to arrive at the S65 for the E92, couldn't it be highly feasible to do the same with the S63?

This would achieve packaging benefits, no doubt, with BMW having to worry less about the length of the engine and being able to achieve a better weight distribution too.

I'm surprised you didn't focus on the "AWD" comment.

^ Ofr the auto gearbox in an M3. But then again, you still think the M5 will get that ZF 8 speed right?

7 speed DCT, here we come. For both the M5 and next M3


Nah, I meant V6. Because like AWD and an auto gearbox, that will never happen
There even used to be some talk about BMW going to V6 because the turbo tech should theoretically work better on those engines. It still makes me LOL, thinking about that.

OK, I'm struggling to understand what your point is Klier. So you posted the M3 will have 4x4, an auto gearbox, and e diff for what reason?

My point actually was that it won't have either of those thing, just like the next M3 will not have a 4 pot as the article suggested.

AWD, auto, V-configuration and fake diff... now, where have I heard this before...

A-ha. I see. It was a sarcastic comment. I'd be careful Klier, otherwise people might start thinking you're serious and you'd be in danger of losing your extremely credible reputation.

Usually you hear it from MB, but if you spare the V-configuration you can get it from a 335xi, too

I don't care what people on a forum think about me personally. My suggestion to you is to do the same.
But, thank you so much for the fantastic advise! Very generous.

A very commendable attitude and one which is probably for the best.

I think we can all agree it's way, way too early for M3 speculation.
We don't even know about the M1 and M5 yet. Lets wait for that first.

Prospective M3 drivers will love the idea of driving around with a tweaked M1 engine. Besides that image problem, KERS would be absolutely necessary for the F32 M3, then.

If Scott's comment above is accurate, it will have an engine called S55, which is based on the recently launched N55.

Scott hinted at some modifications in the process to make the S55 out of the N55. For example, he said that we would see a twin turbo in that engine. This leads to the question whether the twin turbo will replace the twin-scroll single turbo of the N55 or not. There was some spirited discussion about this on another forum, but Scott didn't bother to comment. Since then, I've been wondering if the concept of a twin turbo twin-scroll engine (like the S63 is) would also be feasible for an inline 6. Anyone?

I'd like to see a V6 based on the S65, but that won't happen either...

You can't possibly mean the X5 M and X6 M, because they don't have a fake diff.


Best regards,
south