Rumor: New 2014 BMW M3 to feature inline-six 3.2 liter engine

By Horatiu Boeriu. Read Bio
June 19th, 2012 | Featured Posts, Rumors | 22 comments

Last month, BMW confirmed that the new 2014 BMW M3 and M4 models will be powered by an inline-six engine. The F80 M3 will debut, in concept form, at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and it might have a surprise under the hood.

According to sources close to our sister-magazine BimmerToday, the powerplant found under the hood is a newly developed 3.2 liter unit, still inline-six, which has its fundamentals in the current M3 engine, the S65 V8.

The engine is rated at 450 hp and with a new performance package it could reach 480 horsepower and a top speed of 300 km/h.

Rumor: New 2014 BMW M3 to feature inline six 3.2 liter engine

The M3 engine saga has been quite interesting so far, with initial reports mentioning a V6 powerplant as the choice for the super popular M product. BimmerToday’s sources say that V6 engine prototypes were indeed built and tested under the codename “Apollo”.

The 2014 BMW M3, production version, will debut in September 2013 at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

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  • Manny Antunes

    So much for BMW’s 500cc/cylinder architecture..

    • http://twitter.com/sleepyguy007 hans wee

      the E46 m3 had a 3.2 L i-6. Its not set in stone or anything.

  • LaMa

    a newly developed 3.2 liter unit, still inline-six, which has its fundamentals in the current M3 engine, the S65 V8.

    ERR.. an inline six has nothing to do with a V8.

    I must say I’m a little dissapointed. I wanted to see a V6 with the twin-turbo setup, a shortened version of the wonderful 4.4l V8 in the M5. It would have fit into the family engine variants. Also would have been cheaper and probably same powerful. a 3.4l V6 could have easily made the 460HP if the 4.4l V8 makes 560.

    but its good, going back to the I6 is fine too, I don’t mind either.

    • auaq

      V6? Never ever! I don’t care if the inline-6 is too long affecting the weight distribution or the centre of gravity of the entire car. They should stick to inline-6′s forever.

      • LaMa

        why ?

        • auaq

          Personally speaking BMW should stick to inline 6 engines as it is a tradition at BMW just like the pushrod engines from GM that are still being manufactured.

        • ian

          V6 and Straight 6 hold the same potential, more torque out of inline 6s thats why they used and use them in tractors/jeeps/cummins. They last forever and take hardcore beatings. not only is it their tradition the straight 6 but also has been a flag for bmw. using a V8 I feel was bmws way of getting attention.. which it did..

    • mckillio

      The only way a V6 would have made sense is if it were 120 degree variant and I doubt that it would have been less expensive. I do wonder how it could be related to the V8, not in displacement per cylinder obviously, I doubt individual throttle bodies (valvetronic makes more sense), I seriously doubt it’s not turbo charged.

  • Gas

    480 my ass haha. The same thing was said about the M5 – 580 hp…

    • http://www.bmwblog.com Horatiu B.

      Who knows…things can still change.

    • LaMa

      according to many the new M5 makes more then the posted 560HP.
      Just like the 335′s with the N54 engine made more then the posted 300HP. Some were dyno’d at 328HP. The IS version made 335 but there is no way of telling why BMW would “limit” the HP numbers but they do.

      But 480HP out of a 3.2l Triple turbo engine is a lot, although not impossible. Dinan and others got 404HP out of the 335 with small mods,
      The //M guys had everything at their disposal. Larger engine size, different crank-rod-piston, better head, triple turbo with larger intercooler, the usual valvetronic, vanos, etc. treatment. So I don’t see a reason not to believe the 480HP.
      It might have a nice titanium exhaust and water injection as well ! Who knows maybe they are creating an engine that will turn the world upside down !
      their M550d engine certainly did, that motor is a monster and that is also a 6 cylinder with 3,0l capacity and makes 376HP out of a DIESEL !!!

      The M3 GTS in a few years after could feature a 3.6 or 3.8L engine with 550+ HP !!!
      Look at Nissan’s Godzilla GT-RS! That monster is making 550HP out of 3.8l and so far no issues with the engine.

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  • Socal

    hoping a “variant” of the engine makes it way into to 335…kind of overdue…

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  • joe

    they will prob upgrade the engine when the new c class comes out

  • Otto

    M3 or M4 ??

  • Pingback: 2014 BMW M3 Could Pack a 480 horsepower 3.2-liter Inline Six-Cylinder Engine « Automotive News « Coffman Automotive

  • viper

    why go from 4.0 to 3.2 and from V8 to l6?…I dont get that , but I hope they know what they are doing…however , the AMG is developing a new V12 engine for new models…how COOL is that?

    • ian

      how HEAVY is that?

    • ertony

      enjoy that tank fillup

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