There are very few cars on this planet with the pedigree of the BMW M3. From the very first generation the M3 was intended to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Its mantra was to resemble a stock 3-Series coupe while providing its driver with the best handling and performing car in its class. In order to ensure that this formula could be met just about every feature that is hidden behind the cars sheet metal is subject to improvement by BMW’s M division.
This same mind set will also be the reason why the 2014 BMW M3 will be yet another ground breaking vehicle. When it does finally arrive for purchase in North American BMW dealerships, one thing is for sure it will have a brand new 6-cylinder engine under the hood. Although initial rumors pointed us in the direction of M3 being powered by a tri-turbo inline-6, we are now seeing evidence in the form of BMW patent filings that V6 is going to power the legend.
2014 BMW M3 - Speculative Rendering of the Front 3/4
I know what you’re thinking, and yes it is true; a highly advanced 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is being developed. The new engine will not be a down sized version of the M5’s engine like the V8 found in the current M3. In that car the 4.0-liter V8 power plant was identical to the V10 found in the M5 with the exception of slicing off the 2 end cylinders. The current twin turbo honey pot that is used in the M5 is a 4.4-liter unit which would make a downsized V6 a 3.2 or round up to a 3.3-liter unit. However these figures have never surfaced in all of our research, so we are sticking with the claim that it will be a 3.0-liter twin-scroll unit.
It would be safe to say that the new V6 engine will be on par with the high revving V8 that it is set to replace and we have seen the figures of 430hp and 405 lb-ft or torque being tossed around. If these figures do prove to be correct the engine should be a beast boasting more hp and a ton more torque then the outgoing M3 power plant. Although we doubt that the V6 with its turbo mufflers on will sound as sweet as the V8, especially at 7,000 RPM. This kind of power would also seem sufficient enough to fend of the cars rivals of the Audi RS4, Mercedes C63 AMG and Lexus IS-F.
2014 BMW M3 - Speculative Rendering of the Rear 3/4
Sticking with the trend of upgrading components that the average driving will never see it is expected that the new M3 will receive light weight carbon-ceramic disc brakes and all aluminum calipers. Saving the car about 35 pounds while dramatically improving its stopping distances and reducing brake fade. Other weight saving measures would include many light weight carbon body panels, titanium mufflers and aluminum wiring instead of traditional heavier copper. Don’t tell and car enthusiasts as we are also reading that unlike the M5 the M3 could also employ electric power steering, Gasp I know. But Porsche was very successful with its new electric steering in the new 911 and the diehard Porschephile’s aren’t screaming too loud about it.
When the new M3 sedan and M4 Coupe are debuted next year we will find out just how successful BMW’s M-Division engineers were at the balancing act facing new performance cars in today’s “lower emission”, and “increased fuel economy world”. We are expecting that at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show will be when these two 3-Series halo cars are presented to the world. So circle that data on your calendar as it will also be the data when we find out if it is possible to reduce a cars CO2 emissions, reduce its thirst for fuel, and reduce its 0-100 acceleration times.
