M3/M4 [Spy Shots] 2014 BMW M3 (Impressions, SpyPhotos, Renderings)

[Beemer B773ER]

I see nothing wrong with that.

Ditto....

So if there won't be an M variant of the 3er sedan, then that would suggest there won't be an M3 anything. Good luck to BMW's marketing gurus in promoting the M4.

Would have made much more sense to keep the coupe variant under the 3er name (definitely help the folks at BMW Marketing when it comes to promoting the 3er's 'best seller in class' status), and then to put the 4-door Coupe as a stand alone 4er model to give it even greater exclusivity and luxury-focus (read as: priced higher).
But then again, the 2dr-coupe/convertible/4dr-coupe variants of the 5er are classed under their own 6er range, so introducing the 4er range put this more in line with the 5er/6er family-tree. It just seems like a VERY BIG move to make any changes to the 3er name and family, especially when it comes to the M3. But I don't think someone's going to refuse to buy the M4 just because it isn't named the M3.

Again, BMW Marketing has its work cut out!

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Just curious, what is BMW/M planning on naming the M variant of the 4er GC (or the 6er GC for that matter since it'll be here sooner)? M3GC? M4GC? 3GCM? 4GCM? M3+2?

 

[Merc1]

All that V6 crap talk can be finally put to rest.
And a big LOL to the people who actually bought that fable.




It's not that hard:

3er coupe will become 4er coupe.
M3 coupe will stay.
M3 sedan will go.
4er coupe will get a 4 door version (like the 6er)
4er 4 door will have an M version, M4
M3 and M4 will be the same car, the M4 the 4 door version of the M3.

BTW, M4 sounds extremely awkward. Like we're talking about a British highway or something.

If BMW really does do this, it will be by far one of their dumbest moves. Just plain stupid.



M

 

[Betty Swollocks]

The thing is, the 6 Series is SOO much more expensive than the 5 Series, BMW could get away with bringing out a 5 Series coupe and badging it "5 Series". It would fit nicely below the 6 Series. Then they could have had a 3 Series coupe and then a much more luxurious 4 Series Coupe to bridge the gap between the 3 Series Coupe and the 6 Series coupe.

 

[Sunny]

If it was me, I would keep everything the same with 3 and introduce a 4 coupe above it, especially since 6er has become so expensive, there should be enough gap between 3er and 6er.


Edit - Just saw Betty's post, but yea, guess we agree on one more thing now.

 

[Human]

If you compare BMWi and BMWM they are the sub-brands of BMW. Now with BMWi what you get is cars that are not based upon BMW's hence the i3 is not a 3er.
This is something we are investigating for M.
Eventually M will offer something that will not be featured within the regular BMW line-up.
But when you look at BMW M - Every car is made to drive different and feel different from the original car it is based on. There is a specific formula that defines M. So our thinking is that with the M sub-brand we can further seperate the M's from the core cars and keep the original terminology.

So the next M3 family will consist of Coupe and Cabrio and Gran Coupe. However we are really getting close to finally deciding on since the new M-boss has the latest C63 AMG T-modell for evaluation , the very first M3 Touring.

Ah-ha! Now if ever there was a test of intelligence OR the lack of it this ^ is it!

Read carefully. Consider. The M3 will stay despite the new naming moniker.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Ah-ha! Now if ever there was a test of intelligence OR the lack of it this ^ is it!

Read carefully. Consider. The M3 will stay despite the new naming moniker.

But Scott has already said it would stay the "M3" months ago.

 

[picsoubmw]

Scott already said a lot of things, and all didn't became reality.

 

[martinbo]

OK folks, let's move on from nomenclature and what Scott said and discuss the concept of a tri- turbo M3.

 

[Michael]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I haven't really heard too much of tri-turbo cars. Any production models ever made by anyone?

 

[Levi68]

If it is going to be an I6, it should better not be based on the N55, unless M make it rev up to 8.000 RPM, what is quite impossible.

 

[Poverty]

If it is going to be an I6, it should better not be based on the N55, unless M make it rev up to 8.000 RPM, what is quite impossible.

not impossible at all.

 

[Levi68]

But does not mean BMW M will make it possible.

 

[klier]

This displacement and 3 turbochargers is enough for 480PS...

It's enough for 800 hp. But that doesn't mean it will happen

OK folks, let's move on from nomenclature and what Scott said and discuss the concept of a tri- turbo M3.

Well the M3 name is like the most iconic name in the industry so a little talk should be ok don't you think

As for the concept of a try turbo...you are one of the experts here, why don't you start? What's the advantage of I6 with 3 turbos over a V6? What will three turbos even do and how could it work?? Think about it Martin, and post an essay. We all want to read your thought s on this

 

[330CIZHP]

Yes, these are the games Kay Siegler has been playing since the beginning. The X5 M and X6 M also make no sense since they are essentially the same truck. One with a different roofline that the other. Yet, they are two different M cars from different series that are essentially the same.

A 4-Series is just plain dumb. Why would BMW confuse buyers on their most important model by playing BS marketing games? 3-Series has always been its own line, a complete line of cars. Why mess with success? Just plain stupid to re-badge the coupes.


M

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Well the M3 name is like the most iconic name in the industry so a little talk should be ok don't you think

At risk of being accused of keeping this off-topic, I agree the M3 is ONE of the most iconic names/numbers, but not THE most iconic. I'd say that title goes to the 911.

 

[Human]

As mentioned earlier on this thread IMO keeping the plumbing tidy and in check I suppose they will use the now famous TwinPower turbo and the 3rd will be an electric-type turbo used for extra boost higher in the rev range.

 

[Sunny]

^ If they do go the route of an electric motor driven charger (I don't think it is technically a "turbocharger" if it is not driven by the exhaust gases) my guess would be it would used at the low end to avoid the lag rather than the high end where the turbos are spooled up anyway.

The other possibility is all three are genuine turbos - 2 small turbos like today for low end work to minimize lag and a big fat one for high end oomph where the smaller ones just can't serve up enough air.

 

[klier]

At risk of being accused of keeping this off-topic, I agree the M3 is ONE of the most iconic names/numbers, but not THE most iconic. I'd say that title goes to the 911.

Maybe, but the 911 is not a single car, it is a whole range of cars. Not quite the same as an M3 imo. But they're equally famous indeed.

 

[Human]

^ If they do go the route of an electric motor driven charger (I don't think it is technically a "turbocharger" if it is not driven by the exhaust gases) my guess would be it would used at the low end to avoid the lag rather than the high end where the turbos are spooled up anyway.

The other possibility is all three are genuine turbos - 2 small turbos like today for low end work to minimize lag and a big fat one for high end oomph where the smaller ones just can't serve up enough air.

A while back I posted this write-up:

Posted on: May 31st, 2011
Author: Hugo Becker

In this case, utilize the two small turbos for low RPM operation and employ a third turbocharger for higher RPM operation. A BMW tri-turbo engine can be done in a couple of ways.

*One is to plumb the turbos to operate sequentially. This will run the smaller turbos up to a specific engine RPM, boost level where a transition to the third turbo will take place and the intake track is
supplied from the output of the bigger, third turbocharger at high RPM. The drawback to this system is the Rube Goldberg plumbing necessary to make it work (and the system tweaking needed to make sure the transition is seamless).

*Another way of accomplishing it is through staged turbo-charging. This would use two turbos (or a combination thereof) of similar size to provide a multiplying effect on boost. If the first (set of) turbo(s) produces three times compression of inlet air and the second turbo is fed the output of the first stage, and then boosts that three times further, you’ve effectively squared the boost (the turbos deliver a total of nine times the input pressure). The drawbacks of this setup are lag, and an unresponsiveness to fairly rapid RPM changes. This type of turbo-charging was used in piston engined aircraft.

So of the two types of compound turbo-charging the type that makes the most sense for an N54 derivative would be the sequentially engaged turbo-chargers, if they can package the plumbing needed to do it in the existing space.