Thabiso Malimela
Ever since 1986, the performance and race-inspired derivative of the 3-series executive sedan has captured the hearts of many performance car enthusiasts to such an extent that the following gathered by this car could arguably rival a religion. With the release of the 7th generation and G20 3-series late last year, it was only a matter of time before BMW lifted the veil on its compact performance sedan. After seeing various spy footage of camouflaged M3 prototypes undergoing testing at the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife during industry pool sessions and realising that the Frankfurt Motor Show (12 September 2019 – 22 September 2019), is only a few weeks away, it looks like we don’t have to wait too much longer to behold the G80 BMW M3 for the first time. So, in the meantime, let’s talk about everything that we know about it so far.
Three-Tier Model Range
The new BMW M3 (and later the M4 Coupe) will arrive initially with three specification levels to choose from, all powered by the S58 3.0 litre inline 6-cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine already seeing action in the X3 M and X4 M sporty SUVs. The engine, which now features water injection to cool intake temperatures, is available in two power levels: 352 kW and 375 kW, depending on whether you’re respectively slightly unhinged or just plain insane. A standard M3 gets the more docile engine tune while a more expensive M3 Competition Package gets the engine at full beans. In the Competition Package, you get higher boost pressure, a higher compression ratio, a larger intake manifold along with a less restrictive (and thus sonorous) exhaust system. And did I mention also mention that you also get 375 kW?
Unconfirmed Drivetrain
Anyone who’s driven a rear-wheel drive car with a powerful and boosty engine knows that managing the all of that power while trying to not spin the rear wheels and lose traction is like patting your neighbour’s short-tempered dog which has a reputation for its thirst for human blood…yeah, it’s a lot! So, when you hear that BMW is adding more power to the M3 and M4 (enough to match Mercedes-AMG’s twin-turbo V8 in the C63 S), it can be a worrying thing to accept. Although BMW themselves haven’t put a stamp on the drivetrain plans as yet, they do let us know that an xDrive all-wheel-drive system similar to the variable one used in the F90 BMW M5 does indeed fit in the new M3 and thus is being considered for use in the production model. Along with the prospective all-wheel drive system, the M3 will be fitted with an 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox – to anyone complaining about the death of the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, take a look at the wonderful automatic unit fitted in the equally wonderful Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
“Pure” Range
The attentive reader may have noticed that I mentioned that there would be three initial models of the M3 while having only detailed two. Well, the third model is one that BMW says is supposed to make the G80 M3 feel like a product of the M3 lineage and not a total stranger in the “hot 3-series” family tree – so I guess it’s some kind of heritage model that commemorates the M3’s history of being a tied down, visceral tool that delivers fast lap times and sheer driving pleasure. BMW internally calls this the M3 “Pure” as it has no official name as yet. The Pure is designed to be an entry-level M3, undercutting the standard model in terms of pricing and general equipment. It is an unadorned vehicle that only driving purists and enthusiasts would look at with dilated pupils and goosebumps on their skin. The S58 6-cylinder engine in the M3 Pure develops 338 kW, less power than the one found in the standard M3. While the more expensive standard M3 gets only an automatic gearbox, the M3 Pure will be fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox only. The more powerful M3 models miss out on the three-pedal configuration due to the plain fact that BMW doesn’t have a manual gearbox that can live with more than 650 N.m of torque, which is exceeded by even the standard M3. While BMW is on the fence about how many driven wheels the standard car will have, the M3 Pure retains the rear-wheel drive setup that has been the M3’s star feature since the car’s inception in 1986. However, unlike its more expensive siblings, the Pure receives a briskly-acting rear differential that will enable the M3 Pure to pull off massive skids like every other M3 that has ever existed! The entry-level car receives its own front and rear bumper design, a signature paint job, a unique wheel design, Alcantara upholstery and some instrument graphics that will come handy on the racetrack…. And it’s cheaper too!
Weight Reduction Bro!
Expect a weight reduction of around 65 kg on the new M3 (no word on which model that may be, but let’s assume it’s the standard M3). This is achieved through the use of lightweight materials that result in a stiffer chassis and bodywork along with the weight loss. The suspension is reworked and large improvements are made with regards to the aerodynamics of the car.
Trademark M3 Garnishes
Quad exhaust pipes are to BMW’s M division as what the bunny chow is to Durban – one is not without the other. So it’s no surprise at all to find four round barrels sitting pretty at the rear of the camouflaged M3 development mules. I think it’s safe to say that BMW have done a good job camouflaging the test cars because, well, we can’t see much apart from the wheels and the basic contour of the car. However, it is easy to see that the wheels feature a staggered diameter setup, meaning that the front and rear wheels are different sizes – I’ll let you figure out which one is the larger of the two. We can also see a subtle boot-lid lip spoiler, a nod to the previous statement about aerodynamic improvements. The rear wheel arches are more pronounced to provide enough room for those chunky rear tyres and to probably give the M3 the notorious sporty stance that makes the camouflaged cars look like a dirty arctic wolf about to prance on its prey.
M4 Cabriolet
Also seen testing at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe is a test mule of the upcoming 2nd generation 4-series Cabriolet, which by deduction will become the next M4 Cabriolet. The biggest news here apart from everything else mentioned in this article is that the new M4 Cabrio will ditch the folding metal roof in favour of a fabric soft top. Expect the drop-top M4 to drop late in 2020. I GOT BARS!
M4 Gran Coupe
The BMW M3 hasn’t undergone the station wagon (or estate) treatment since the E91 M3 Touring. While BMW has nullified any and all claims of an M3 station wagon, they will release an M4 Gran Coupe which, as James May famously said, is a 4-door version of a 2-door version (M4 Coupe) of a 4-door car (M3 sedan) they already make. While it may not make sense to the average human being, I’m finding it hard to doubt that the M4 Gran Coupe will have the M3 sedan beat on sex appeal.
Special Versions of the M4
Also popular in the M3 (and later the M4) range is the eventual inclusion of special versions of an already special car. On top of what the Competition Package already has to offer, BMW will release an M4 CS and M4 CSL somewhere in the production lifetime of the M3/M4. Being the more auspicious car of the two, the M4 CSL features anti-social levels of race-ready modifications. Among these are a very conspicuous adjustable rear wing, an adjustable front splitter, carbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin Cup tyres, racing bucket seats with the rear seats being deleted entirely, an optional roll cage, various components of the car made from composite materials, fully adjustable suspension and a bespoke instrument graphics display. The S58 engine in the CSL is souped up to produce 410 kW and while the less anti-social M4 CS receives only 395 kW and less divisive modifications, it will still be a track-worthy machine of note!
Expectedly as with every generation of the M3 (and now M4), there will be some naysayers who will berate BMW for taking technical leaps in ensuring that the next-generation M3 and M4 continue the trend of being a yardstick in the compact executive sports sedan segment. And with this G80 generation looking to bring one of the biggest leaps with the onset of a possible all-wheel drive M3, it’s expected that some will dislike the new car. However as this may be, BMW does recognise that more variety was very much needed in their range and have done much like what Mercedes-AMG has done with the inclusion of the 43, the 53, the 63 and then the 63 S cars. So an M3/M4 for everyone? That still remains to be seen.
The 2020 BMW M3/M4 In A Sentence: I can’t wait I can’t wait I can’t wait!
