[suhaas307]

The death of an icon would bring tears to many a purist's eyes. Especially when the icon in question is the famed BMW M3. Back in 1986, BMW took the bog-standard 3-Series and poked it with a stick. Based on the lightweight CSL, the M3 was a race-derived road car with some serious performance to boot. The perfect daily-driver is what it was considered. A car that could be driven anywhere and everywhere. A car that can shame expensive machinery in the hands of skilled drivers.

Four generations of the M3 were produced subsequently. The E30, the E36, the E46 and the E90 (90/92/93) But if reports are to be believed, BMW is all set to discontinue the M3 nomenclature once and for all.

It's hard to believe that the M3 Coupe will no longer be with us. Being the bearer of bad news has its pitfalls. But hey, there is always a silver-lining there, somewhere. Much like Audi's strategy, BMW have spawned a new series of cars. The '4'. Basically, the coupe and cabrio variants of the 3-Series will be re-badged the 4-Series.







The new M4 was spotted undergoing tests near the Nurburgring recently. Sources say that BMW will be ditching the high-revving V8 for an in-line 6 mill that would be supplemented by 2 or maybe 3 turbochargers. Expect power figures to be closer to the 500 horsepower mark. Here are the spy photos.

So the BMW M3 might be dead. Long live the M3! And let's put our hands together for the new M4. What I found rather interesting is the reincarnation of the famed inline-6 motor for our favourite performance sedan.







Source

[shamik.bose]

When I read the thread title, I was shocked. I thought there wouldn't be an M-version of the 3-series. All that has changed is the nomenclature, and that's alright by me. Especially as they are bringing the inline-6 that brought glory to the M-brand until they changed over to the V8s starting with the E39 M5. The new 3-series' face is quite aggressive and a M-kit could do wonders with the looks. Just hope it can live up to its predecessors.

[carfreak77]

Noooo!!!! This can't be true!! Even though it is just a change in nomenclature, the M3 is such an iconic car. And ditching the V8 for an in-line 6??? No doubt the in-line 6 is great but the V8 has its own charm. This is all being done for improving fuel efficiency.
I hope they do not actually ditch the V8 for the in-line 6 in the next M3 or M4.

[suhaas307]

Originally Posted by shamik.bose

When I read the thread title, I was shocked. I thought there wouldn't be an M-version of the 3-series. All that has changed is the nomenclature, and that's alright by me.

True

But the fact that the nomenclature is no more is itself heart-wrenching..

Originally Posted by carfreak77

Noooo!!!! This can't be true!! Even though it is just a change in nomenclature, the M3 is such an iconic car. And ditching the V8 for an in-line 6??? No doubt the in-line 6 is great but the V8 has its own charm. This is all being done for improving fuel efficiency.
I hope they do not actually ditch the V8 for the in-line 6 in the next M3 or M4.

Worry not.

The M3 Sedan is still on the cards.

SPY SHOTS: Six-Cylinder BMW M3 F30 Sedan Spotted on the Road - Carscoop

[Sahil]

The 'M3' title will still live on but only a sedan version, the coupe version will be M4. They will share the same engine and similar body kit too I presume.

I think it's a good move, the coupe's design now need not be that strikingly close to the sedan's.

[vb-saan]

I guess this is in-line with all the name restructuring they are doing. (Similar to this) I read somewhere that the small coupe models which were earlier part of the 1-series (in pervious gen) will be moved as 2-series, and 1 will remain in the hatchback form only.

[thumpingheart]

I like that the M4 is gonna have an inline 6. Its BMW's USP. When I heard they are ditching the V10 for the M5, i was sad, but the inline 6 is a good news. But of course - turbo :( But its ok. You can't have everything.

But don't you think 500 BHP is too much?? May be I'm being a bit too James May, but I think that is just crazy. Too much power and too many electronics. An M3 (or 4 whatever) should have just as much power as the chassis can mechanically handle and be more of a real mechano-head's car, than a power hungry show-off's car.

What do you guys think??

[dipen]

If the M4 comes with 500hp, its kerb weight also has to go up as with the current kerb weight of ~ 1655kg and 500 hp, it will have better power to weight ratio than the F10 M5; which BMW cannot let happen.

[suhaas307]

Horsepower figures are not always accurate. Some manufacturers set a slightly optimistic figure while some set it lower than what it probably and actually is. BMW has been relatively neutral with this.

Originally Posted by suhaas307

The new M4 was spotted undergoing tests near the Nurburgring recently. Sources say that BMW will be ditching the high-revving V8 for an in-line 6 mill that would be supplemented by 2 or maybe 3 turbochargers. Expect power figures to be closer to the 500 horsepower mark.

I'd like to clarify that it may not be exactly 500 BHP. It should be in the region of 450 - 500. One could expect the track-bred GT version to be 500 thereabout.

The E90 M3 mill produced a little under 420 horses*

[maximuzz]

Well that is just sad news. M3 just sounds cooler than M4. 2 or 3 turbos, I m guessing that would to be rule out any kind of turbolag.

Also when is the expected launch, 2014-15?

Great Catch by the way !!

[LP640]

Hey wait! When I in was in the BMW Welt Munich the BMW employees told me that there will be 4 series branding for the coupes and cabrios. But the M3 name will remain intact! For the coupe and sedan alike. He even said that "M3" makes them feel proud and "M4??" its like middle of nowhere! No body will ever have the same respect for the "M4" name!
Also I never saw an M3 sedan in Germany. Feels like, who ever has the money, buys coupe. Even the Germans wont be able to digest it!!

Hope they dont call it M4

[Rehaan]

Interestingly, BMW had tried this about 9 years back.

Below is a link of similar news posted on Team-BHP way back in 2004!

However, it seems they decided against it at the time, as "the M3 name had too much market equity".

M3 will stay (no coupe and convertible M4)

cya
R

[AdiSinghV12]

Not a bad move. The M3 'Coupé' might be no more but as we already saw the scoops, there is certainly going to be a M3 Sedan. The 3-series lineup would only consist of sedans IMO. Just as the F12 and F13 are tagged as 6-Series, F32 and F33 would be called the 4-series and it'd create a whole new lineup I reckon.

The 4er tag will have the 4er Coupé, the convertible and the Mighty M4. Hope it looks like a scaled down 6er as it is one of the sexiest looking car in its segment and I wish we get variants like the 440d, M4, etc in India.

[J.B]

With the new M3 ( or 4 or 3.4 ) around the corner, the current M3 might become affordable in the used market. Here is a video comparo of the E46 and E90 M3s.

BMW M3s Comparison (E46 vs. E90) on Vimeo

It is one of the best reviews of the M3 i have ever seen and some of the shots are a treat to watch.

[naveen.raju]

Here's the video of the M4 doing some testing.

2015 BMW M4 Coupe (F82) First Live Video Footage. Performance Testing at Nurburgring - YouTube