I like to add my 2 cents to this thread mind you I am originally from Germany and having received my engineering training in Germany prior to immigrating to this great part of the world here in Canada I think slightly different when it comes to cars.
This being said and having purchased my first BMW in 1987 (a 535is at that time just one step below the then ///M5). That engine in the 535is is a Straight-6, the 182 HP was all I needed at the time. This car has since been handed down the family tree and is still in fine shape as a daily driver today.
BMW and the ///M Division take great care in design and engineering. As all of you Fellows here well know the engineering and design process starts out with a basic 3 Series when the ///M Division Team go to work. When they are done they replaced nearly 50% of the parts and modified nearly 80% of the components before a ///M badge is affixed to this car. This includes the engine, after all the engine is the heart of the final package. Some time back there was a thread when it was rumoured that BMW's ///M Division is working on a brand new engine. I don't much believe in rumoured information since it so often contains a mixture of truth and untruth, passed around in the written word or verbally.
Now I've mentioned that I have been driving BMW's for the past 25 years and having seen the constant improvements over the years and the fine cars the ///M Division creates and constantly improves before they are released for production I like to predict the following.
- There will be a brand new engine in the new ///M3 Generation when finally released.
- If this engine will be Inline-6 or a V6 is yet unclear, however I think it will be a Inline-6 Turbocharged.
- My hunch is this engine will be M-DCT as a standard and a MT as an option.
- I have another hunch and that is that a team of the ///M Division is also working on a V8 to be offered as a option for the Fellows that like to take there toy to the track.
- Finally only once the testing on the track and in real life conditions has been completed will we all know what the next ///M3 Generation will have in sore
I know whatever it will be in the end, it will be great handling and sounding car, that is the way the ///M3 was born originally in 1986 and evolved over time and will keep on evolving.
I have earmarked this thread and shall revisit it in 2014 to see what the final facts are
Meanwhile you all travel safe now hear