The restless child in me is seriously wishing the newest version of the BMW M3 was already out on the market and doesn’t really want to see spyshots anymore.

Unfortunately that’s not what we’re getting. The upcoming F80 BMW M3 was spied running about in the snowy roads around Arjeplog or whatever it’s going on.

The snow in this place isn’t that impressive. It’s not even all white and just look at that background, it’s pretty poor as well.

As you can see, my enthusiasm as to spyshots quickly wears off. It’s got a lot to do with how I consider I’ve already got a pretty good idea about what the next M3 will look like.

Either way, there is one thing that’s genuinely interesting about the brand new set of images we have of this particular M division product.

It’s actually in these photos that we get to see the new carbon ceramic brakes being put to some unusual testing. Most people who’ll buy them will use these cars on a track.

That’s where the brakes get really, really worked over whereas people living in colder environments might not enjoy them so much since they work best at high temps.

Maybe the Bavarians are making sure they’re still safe at those low temperatures or maybe they’re making it so they work regardless of outside conditions.

Either way, it’s impressive to see such expensive brakes being fitted (even if as optional extras) to the M3. It is supposed to be the best of the small luxury sport sedans, why not get this stuff?

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

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Isn’t it nice? We thought we already knew quite a lot about the F80 BMW M3 and yet the Bavarians have something extra in store.

As reports trickle in, the next generation of the M3 will still be surprising when it comes out. Until then however, there’s a few things we will still have find out.

There’s no chance at getting to know the car before it’s unveiled, at least in concept form, but we are getting something major this time.

One of the most important figures the F80 BMW M3 will have on itself is the weight. It’s not a secret that the M3 has been getting chubby recently.

The plan doesn’t call for it to go back to its roots completely, but some serious weight savings are in schedule.

Allegedly 300 pounds will be lost when compared to the E92 M3 as they want this one to weigh as much as the one that went before it.

The E46’s weight came in at around 3.400 pounds but it also had 333 horsepower. The F80 will use the same block but the rest of the engine will be severely modified and then turbocharged.

450 horsepower or so is what most reports are telling us and a considerable amount of extra torque is also in the making.

Performance-wise it’s obvious that the F80 will be a staggeringly fast vehicle. Losing that much bulk will always make things better.

Nurburgring times should be even tastier than previous versions including CSL or GTS options.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post F80 BMW M3 still has a few surprises in store appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Spyshots, spyshots everywhere. That’s how i feel whenever I see a mention of these vile images when the time comes for the release of a stunning new car.

The F80 BMW M3 will probably be more than that but that’s beside the point, I still dislike seeing spyshots and would favor talking about rear seat accommodations on a bike.

This time I really like the idea of these spyshots since they are pretty good in terms of quality and also unique in terms of content.

The images of this F80 BMW M3 don’t really present themselves by saying another 5% of the bumper and another 2% of the lights are visible.

These wonderful bits of information enchant us by providing the first glimpse under the bonnet of the F80 BMW M3.

First impression is… wow, that’s a tight space. I wouldn’t want to be a mechanic on duty when one of these things comes in for a major service.

Second impression is one of wonder. We see the engine is a straight rather than a V6 for sure now, and we do see that it’s fed by two turbochargers.right off the bat.

There’s no sight of the third one that has been rumored around though. That’s not a very big surprise and it also doesn’t mean that it’s not there.

Electric turbos (as it’s been rumored to be) can be placed much more easily since there’s a lot less piping to worry about.

One final impressive bit is the innovative strut placement. Essentially, this gives you enhanced handling characteristics without falling short on pedestrian safety aspects.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post F80 BMW M3 engine spied appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The next generation of the BMW M3 is almost here yet it seems so far away. Thankfully, the F80 BMW M3 is ready to treat us to something special.

Currently being tested around the Nurburgring test track, the F80 M3 sedan got recorded with some serious noise coming out of the quad exhausts at the back.

It’s not as loud as you’d normally imagine, which is to be expected given the turbocharger setup but it’ll certainly not need active sound technologies.

Also worth noting is the way the brake disks look. The unusual hue of those stoppers could be a sign into BMW using carbon ceramics.

Having delayed the sales of the carbon disks for the F10 BMW M5 the Bavarians may want to have the M3 ready with them upon launch.

Such abuse taking anchors may contribute to the time the F80 BMW M3 will set round the ‘Ring. Let’s remember that the E92 was quicker than the replaced Ferrari at the time of launch.

By that logic, the new BMW M3 will be quicker than the F430 which set a time of less than 7.55 minutes. That’s because alongside the brakes the engine is going up a few notches.

Even though it goes down to a 3.2 liter straight six, the turbocharger setup will provide 7% in terms of power and 18% in terms of torque.

Those of a boring considerate attitude will appreciate the 20% improvement in fuel economy levels.

Unfortunately we still have to wait for the 2013 Geneva Motor Show to actually get to see the unveiling of this newest BMW M3.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

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There’s quite a lot of excitement and anticipation rolling around the upcoming version of the BMW M3 and the Bavarians are well aware of this.

That’s why they keep us on a leash with the information about it and won’t let us know too much before they unveil it.

Lately we’ve been hearing that they plan to unveil a ” concept version” of the F80 BMW M3 at the Geneva Motor Show next year.

Though that’s not to say the car will be completely unveiled over there we have a bit of a clue about what an M car “concept” unveiling is like with BMW.

The next BMW M3 will come with a 3.0 liter turbocharged straight-six cylinder engine which develops 450 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.

This is on the level with most rivals, albeit with some extra torque but there’s something more important than this about the drivetrain of the F80 M3.

According to some insiders, the next generation of the BMW M3 will not come with a manual gearbox. It seems that this time it’s dual clutch automatic all the way.

The bigger brother, the M5, did eventually receive a manual gearbox but in this case there won’t be a similar margin for financial adaptations.

Still, you never know what the customer demand will change in the future. Unfortunately though, we do have to wait for a bit of a while until that happens.

It seems that the F80 BMW M3 still won’t be ready for the market until sometime in 2014. Once it goes on sale it will take another three or four months before talk of a manual sparks up again.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW shares a few details on F80 M3 appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The most interesting bit of the F30 BMW 3 Series lineup will soon be the unveiled and it won’t even be wearing the same internal name.

It will be called the F80 and it will probably be awesome. Before it happens though, there’s a lot of testing going on before it’s ready.

The folks at KGP Photography managed to snap a few shots of the F80 BMW M3 going through the desert testing stage. This is where the most important stress tests come in.

Death Valley has a way with dishing out the heat but when going through the desert in a turbocharged car with quite a lot of power.

Even if the testers go through the event with a little more common sense than us M3 freaks would if we had a chance at it, they’re still taking a chance with the prototype.

What is important about the F80 and the shots it was caught in this time is the fact that more of the front end was visible this time.

The lower part of the front bumper is more opened up than the F30 standard sedan which is understandable given the conditions and the need for improved cooling.

With these images the rear end of the F80 is also available. The sporty sedan looks a lot more like the sedan than the previous version.

Which could end up giving the new F80 BMW M3 a better chance at being a sleeper performance car rather than the obvious predecessor.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post F80 BMW M3 spied on the road appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

No, I have not started playing scrabble with added numbers. An expansion/differentiation of the lineup is actually going to happen at BMW.

The change in internal or public model naming of BMW’s products may be something of a change but there’s something that’ll please the enthusiasts in this announcement as well.

Having spoken to Mr. Ludwig Willisch, President of BMW North America, the guys over at bimmerpost have managed to find out what engine we can look forward to.

Under the bonnet of both the F30 M3, and the allegedly called F80 BMW M4 coupe version we’re going to see a very traditional inline six cylinder engine.

It will be getting the not exactly traditional force fed TwinPower Turbo technology but hey, you can’t win them all.

The engine will be sized at 3.0 liters, perhaps even a little more thanks to different stroke management. Regardless of the this specification, performance for the new M3 is expected to be epic.

Most voices speak of more than 450 horsepower being available on tap. The BMW officials are still keeping away from this but there’s a certain feel that nobody will be disappointed.

Come to think about it, the only actual worry about the upcoming BMW M3’s engine is the fact that it might not deliver the same sort of snarl as its predecessors.

Who knows, maybe BMW will fit some of that Active Sound technology to the stereo of this very desirable motorcar.

I for one am so glad to know the BMW M3 is going back to the straight six I might even let that idea pass by without too much grumbling.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post F30/F80 BMW M3/M4 engine confirmed appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The F30 BMW M3, or F80 according to some sources, has managed to set itself in the minds of a few fairly capable designers again.

It seems that the spyshot sessions of a month and a half ago are still fresh with certain graphic designers since they came up with some new renders.

No variation on shapes and angles but hey, the colors are different at least. Who ever thought them up had the good idea of repainting either of the “models” “on the lot.”

The artists have worked with the sedan variation of the M3. This is just as well, since the two door option is expected to get rebranded and wear a different chassis series.

The recipe followed to create these particular renders is quite simple. Take the standard F30 BMW 3 Series, add some aggression to the body kit, new mirrors and a few extra creases and you’re there.

Most of those who’ve seen these renders consider them a little to simplistic. There’s no evidence of a lowered suspension, the revised aero package seems to be too limiting and so do the frames.

As far as what’s going on under the bonnet is concerned, the BMW M3 is planing no novelty from what we’ve come to expect.

The six cylinder twin-turbo (or tri-turbo) engine under the bonnet is expected to develop some 450 horsepower and a great deal of torque to go with it as well.

This engine is expected to be created from a simplified version of the V8 powerplant in the F10 BMW M5 to which new timing and induction is added.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post F30 BMW M3 rendered appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.