The current BMW M3 is only in its infancy, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying to learn about the next one. The BMW 3 Series won’t be changed until 2018, so the next M3 won’t be out until at least 2019. Yet there is still speculation as to what the next BMW M3 will bring to the table. Automobile has done some research into the upcoming BMW M3 and have learned some interesting details.
Codenamed G20, the upcoming 3 Series will be built on BMW’s newest CLAR architecture. This will allow the, unknown codenamed M3, to be considerably lighter than the one it will be replacing.
The next BMW M3 will also likely use Carbon Core technology, similarly to the new G11 7 Series, which utilizes carbon fiber in the passenger cell to create an extremely lightweight and rigid chassis. Aside from the chassis updates, the new M3 will also have active anti-roll bars and adjustable suspension which can adjust to camber changes on the fly.
This is all universal stuff for the upcoming 3 Series that will make its way to the M3 and improve it. But when it comes to the next BMW M3 powertrain, things get a bit muddy. One report from Automobile claim that the new M3 will have a similar 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6, but will utilize water-injection and an electric turbocharger to give it around 500 hp. This isn’t an unlikely solution, as BMW is currently testing water-injection on its first production car with the BMW M4 GTS and Audi is going the way of an electric turbocharger on the upcoming RS4. So this is a good possibility.
There is a second report, however, that has some different info. According to the second report, the G20-based BMW M3 will be a plug-in hybrid. That’s right, get your pitchforks ready, BMW M fans, because it’s possible that the next M3 will have an electric motor and some batteries. This second report comes from Automobile as well. Apparently, Ludwig Willisch, CEO of BMW North America, has claimed that the next M3 will indeed be a hybrid.
The supposed plug-in hybrid BMW M3 would still use a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 engine to power the rear wheels. However, one or two electric motors would power the front wheels, effectively making the next M3 an all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid. It’s said that this M3 would be able to do 20 miles on electric power alone and have real-time torque vectoring.
While the latter M3 is less likely, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility considering BMW’s latest penchant for hybrid technology. However, the former option is the more likely one, considering that the tech that would be used has already been talked about by BMW before. A hybrid M3 isn’t an impossibility but it’s an improbability. Obviously, we won’t know for many years, but it’s still fun to speculate. Image a plug-in hybrid BMW M3 will torque-vectoring all-wheel drive? No, I can’t either.
I like the idea of a PHEV M3 as an option but not as the sole power train, at least not for the next generation. Having said that, the amount of torque that cars are getting now with turbo chargers and electric motors, AWD is inevitable.
Hybrid version is for the E generation, it will make so much sense haha.
Buy the time i’ll be on the market for it hopefully :D
By the time a plug-in M3 hits the market Tesla may already have a performance version of the Model 3. It’ll be interesting to see what’s available in the performance sedan market in the coming years. The one good thing about a plug-in M3 is it would make the M3 even more practical, with a mix of efficiency and power.
By the time they launch the G20 Model 3 P70D will already be hauling some asses xD
if was in the market to buy an M3 or a fast 4 door saloon. telsa will never cross my mind. all i hear is negatives about that brand most people i know and have seen hate the brand. ive even heard they can be hacked etc. what a fail. shit car shit company
Have you driven one, maybe you’re hearing from haters? I’ve had the Model S up to 120 MPH, and it feels very much like a German luxury car. Although I’d say it’s more like a 7-Series, you wouldn’t take it to a track day like a M3. But it’s great in the corners, powerful, high tech, and luxurious, it is a great road car. Yes someone tried to hack it, but Tesla can fix their software live to all their cars, and fixed the hack before anyone even knew about it. Any car can be hacked, but you don’t have to issue a recall to fix a Tesla, they haven’t failed, and they aren’t shit. I’ve been a long time BMW fan too, but I don’t hate other brands and toute my favorite as the best.
As long as the BMW is able to retain a pure enthusiast’s car, like 1M/M2, I think a hybrid M3 would be a nice addition for those who want both a short commuter car and weekend fun car.
I think most cars will have a similar setup in the future. The electric motor will not be the primarily power source but rather an aid in certain situations. So as long as the car will sound great and drive amazing, no one will care if an electric motor is on board
918, LaFerrari, P1, Regera, all brilliants car. All cars should be hybrid for me xD
The time will come that there will be no oil anymore and so no petrol engine. It’s ok because electric Drive is more efficient and gives a better Performance. So nobody needs to cry.
If all cars are hybrid the problem is not that important because the US have some and we’ll be able to use mass of synthesis fuel (germany actually did it in the WW, so…)
hell yes