news about next M3 :)

[kmarei]

i knew you guys would like this
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...-new-2011-F30/

next M3 will have same power, 414hp, from a twin turbocharged STRAIGHT SIX with direct injection
upgraded dual-clutch gearbox
next 335i loses 1 turbo and power down to 280hp
340i with a twin turbo with 360hp
only bad news is it was designed by Chris Bangle prior to retiring

so my guess is the engine in the 340 will be related to the one in the M3

[duk]

very interesting

[Crazy Bimmer]

Thats a lot of information. Wonder how they were able to get all that.

Normally I would call BS, but CAR magazine has been pretty close to their predictions in the past.

[SlammedR8]

cool

[B.Hallowell]

Very interesting, thanks for the link!

[JMD0977]

The million dollar question is, how much it will weight?

[signes]

Pretty surprised about the "340i" thing, with output so close to what they say the M3 will have. The current 335 already snags some potential M3 buyers. M3 is about a lot more than bhp but still...

[alpineweissM3]

I wonder if the M will be dual clutch exclusively, or if they will offer a true manual trans.

[Robo Squirrel]

Originally Posted by alpineweissM3

I wonder if the M will be dual clutch exclusively, or if they will offer a true manual trans.

if they dont offer manual they will lose 60% of the ppl on this board as customers. including me...ill either keep mine or move to a P-car

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by signes

Pretty surprised about the "340i" thing, with output so close to what they say the M3 will have. The current 335 already snags some potential M3 buyers. M3 is about a lot more than bhp but still...

I can see it now - there will be a thread "Stop talking about the 340i vs M3"

[Robo Squirrel]

oh, i dont know what u guys r talking about with the whole bangle thing...first of all he probably held a pen in 15 years or so, design bosses just make sugestions and approve shit...they dont do any actually design work. also MOST of the cars he did a BMW are good looking cars...the only messed up one is the last gen 7 series...that thing is fuggly. the E92 is one of the best looking cars on the road right now, IMO

[MMMorish]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

I can see it now - there will be a thread "Stop talking about the 340i vs M3"

[Technic]

Well, it is not quite BS but to me this "report" is not that well thought...

I do think that the twin turbo setup will be reserved for M models and the single turbo for regular models in the future of BMW powertrains strategy, but those power ratings stated in that report do not seem to me like they make any sense.

A 340i (with 360hp) would be a direct competitor to the M3 if it remains with 414hp. The way the new X6 M is setup powerwise (the latest example of the M) with the X6 50i is with at least 100hp of separation, and that's including the new OEM power upgrade option of 50hp in the 50i. Used to be a time that the M3 was just 30-50hp away from the top 3-Series, but that was 10 years ago. And this 340i would be just a "chip" away from their own M3, quite simply absurd if we are really talking about the "M experience". Or whatever is left of it in this economy and with the current competition, the main reason BMW is rushing a year earlier the introduction of the F30.

A detuned 335i does not make any sense neither, because BMW itself announced that the new single turbo 3.0l has the exact same power specs as the current twin turbo (300/300) but at a much lower torque rpm. They could just slap a DI system with Valvetronic to the current NA 3.0L and get 272hp right now while meeting or even exceeding all kinds of modern effeciency goals in a lighter and cheaper engine and name it the 330i -replacing the 328i-, and then push the single turbo version to 340hp for the F30 version while keeping the 335i name.

A twin Turbo M3 should be good for at least 450hp while droping at least 100lbs... and it better be.

[frenchM3dreamer]

good news for me is, no more hard-top, back to the ragtop as any convertible should be...
bad news, i'll have to get a E93 before the toss the V8 out

time to start saving! if this is coming in 2011, i'd better get a new job riht now

Pat

[1cleanm6]

wtf is going on with the m division?

if this is true this will be my last m im about to own...

360hp 340? and only 415 for the m3? thats just retarded to close! new m should be 475hp and lighter

[chungdae]

Looks like my next car won't be an M3.

[jimmyeatsworld]

M division is going to finally hit rock bottom with this one.

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by frenchM3dreamer

good news for me is, no more hard-top, back to the ragtop as any convertible should be...
bad news, i'll have to get a E93 before the toss the V8 out

time to start saving! if this is coming in 2011, i'd better get a new job riht now

Pat

2011 Frankfurt show means there'll likely be a new 3 series for 2012. M3 usually comes a year later (2013). So you have some time.

[rubber_ducky]

With all of the carbon fiber research that BMW is involved in, it wouldn't be too surprising for the car to have the same power with a better power:weight ratio.

[yalag]

so glad I got the last v8!

[Crazy Bimmer]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

With all of the carbon fiber research that BMW is involved in, it wouldn't be too surprising for the car to have the same power with a better power:weight ratio.

Yep. BMW has stated numerous times that its investing more into weight reduction.

I have faith that BMW will not disappoint.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by JMD0977

The million dollar question is, how much it will weight?

If I'm reading correctly we know the vert will in all likelihood lose some weight. The hardtop is being ditched for a ragtop.

What would have been more exciting for the M3 would have been to take some of the GTS tech into the new M3. A serious diet, the 4.4L V8; throw in a reliable direct injection system (like the new Ferrari 458)--better performance and lower emissions; upgraded DCT; option of a 6MT with precise clutch and short-throw shifter; and some gearing changes to take advantage of the increased torque (like maybe 2.2K RPM or some at 75 MPH--easier enough to downshift for more revs); maybe a cylinder cut-off for crusing; BBK; regenerative braking; and driver-oriented cockpit like the E46.

To me, that has the sound of "efficient dynamics" while retaining the heart and soul of what makes an M3 an M3: NA, precision, lightness. It's like taking the best of the Corvette (lightweight design, good torque, good fuel economy, high performance) and blending that with BMW's precision, feel, handling, quality, ability to seat 4, and fit and finish.

Who wouldn't want a lighter car with more torque--plus some decent highway mileage numbers and lower emissions?

Yeah, I know, it's never going to happen and I should just get over it. But damn, I can't help thinking this is the direction I (and probably many others) would have liked to see things go.

Okay, back to the world of reality....