J
Josh-ZN
Guest
.BimmerPost - 13 March 2012
"While we've all seen the spyshots claiming a release in 2013 / 2014, and everybody speculating about the engine, at the Geneva Motor Show 2012, insider information has revealed the upcoming F30 BMW M3 be a lot closer to being done than we'd initially anticipated, despite the F30 3-series having been released barely a month ago, and also given us the official scoop on its powertrain...
This revelation came after we'd stumbled onto an undisplayed exhibition piece of what looked like a more compact version of the unorthodox 4.4 Twin turbo V8 employed in the BMW M5, before we were briskly ushered off by BMW security for snapping a couple of shots. Later, when asked about it, BMW representatives denied any knowledge of it, until an engineer gave us the scoop on the exhibition item that had had its launch at Geneva cancelled at the very last minute.
While the BMW M3 has always been at the forefront of its hotly contested segment dynamically and as an all round driver's car, this time around, there's no compromising or holding back in the power stakes and outright get-up-and-go. Gone is the 4.0 V8, and Naturally Aspirated BMW M power with it - but it's not all doom-and-gloom... Despite rumours of a reworked version of the Turbocharged 3.0L inline-6 from the 1M doing service in the upcoming M3 (albeit employing BMW's new triple turbocharger technology), the M division have changed course and surprised everyone, as they are busy putting the finishing touches on a very interesting rabbit to pull out of their hat when the new F30 M3 is revealed in the next couple of months.
The engineer went on to explain that while the 414 bhp of the E92 M3 was a leap forward from the E46's 343 bhp, the game had moved on, with competitor Mercedes opting for the 6.2L large capacity mallet approach, and Nissan's highly acclaimed GTR with its 500 bhp twin turbo 3.5L V6, both convincingly trouncing the M3 in performance terms - something had to be done, and the 3-litre capacity simply wasn't going to cut it..
In short, using the base design and turbo placement found in the M5's fire-breathing 4.4-litre twin turbo V8, BMW have developed a more compact and lighter 3.5-litre twin Turbo V8 with 510 bhp @ 8800 RPM, 350 lb-ft of torque at 3600 RPM, and a 9000 RPM rev limit, in a car that they'll endeavour to keep under 3600 lbs... and a 4WD option to boot, to help it stick it to the Nissan in any given situation... "
"While we've all seen the spyshots claiming a release in 2013 / 2014, and everybody speculating about the engine, at the Geneva Motor Show 2012, insider information has revealed the upcoming F30 BMW M3 be a lot closer to being done than we'd initially anticipated, despite the F30 3-series having been released barely a month ago, and also given us the official scoop on its powertrain...
This revelation came after we'd stumbled onto an undisplayed exhibition piece of what looked like a more compact version of the unorthodox 4.4 Twin turbo V8 employed in the BMW M5, before we were briskly ushered off by BMW security for snapping a couple of shots. Later, when asked about it, BMW representatives denied any knowledge of it, until an engineer gave us the scoop on the exhibition item that had had its launch at Geneva cancelled at the very last minute.
While the BMW M3 has always been at the forefront of its hotly contested segment dynamically and as an all round driver's car, this time around, there's no compromising or holding back in the power stakes and outright get-up-and-go. Gone is the 4.0 V8, and Naturally Aspirated BMW M power with it - but it's not all doom-and-gloom... Despite rumours of a reworked version of the Turbocharged 3.0L inline-6 from the 1M doing service in the upcoming M3 (albeit employing BMW's new triple turbocharger technology), the M division have changed course and surprised everyone, as they are busy putting the finishing touches on a very interesting rabbit to pull out of their hat when the new F30 M3 is revealed in the next couple of months.
The engineer went on to explain that while the 414 bhp of the E92 M3 was a leap forward from the E46's 343 bhp, the game had moved on, with competitor Mercedes opting for the 6.2L large capacity mallet approach, and Nissan's highly acclaimed GTR with its 500 bhp twin turbo 3.5L V6, both convincingly trouncing the M3 in performance terms - something had to be done, and the 3-litre capacity simply wasn't going to cut it..
In short, using the base design and turbo placement found in the M5's fire-breathing 4.4-litre twin turbo V8, BMW have developed a more compact and lighter 3.5-litre twin Turbo V8 with 510 bhp @ 8800 RPM, 350 lb-ft of torque at 3600 RPM, and a 9000 RPM rev limit, in a car that they'll endeavour to keep under 3600 lbs... and a 4WD option to boot, to help it stick it to the Nissan in any given situation... "
raise::argh::argh:
