BMW M3 2014: Six in a line and three turbos, or a twin-turbo V6?

If there is one model around which many dreams are flying, it is the BMW M3. Even more favoured than its M5 or M6 siblings, the M3 has historically been the BMW most admired of recent years, given that the first M3s drew in a legion of fans like few models ever have.

The latest rumours about the M3, which have been circulating for some months now, speak of a twin-turbo V6 engine for the next model (the first V6 in BMW’s history). Stylistically, the future M3 seems set to not change much from the current one. The conversation (and the speculation) has focused on the engine and nothing else.

In parallel, it was said that the M3 could receive the same triple-turbo technology as the 5 Series, applied to a petrol six-cylinder in-line engine. Fortunately, the solution will be more effective and technically less complicated: a three-litre twin-turbo V6, in the style of the 4.4 V8. It will not be a V8 with two cylinders “cut off”, which would give us more than three litres, but a completely new engine.

There are some other details of the M3 being discussed in Stuttgart at the moment. The first, which seems to be something as trivial as the name change from M3 to M4 and the change of internal designation: F80 for the saloon, F82 for the coupé and convertible.

Do you want to know how much power the new V6 will have? It is said to have 429 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of peak torque, close to the Audi RS4 with 450 horsepower or to the same BMW 1M. Either way, all of this may end up being nothing more than speculation from those of us who love the M3 a little too much.