2013 BMW F80 M3 Goes Winter Testing Wearing Less

[positiveions]

loving it . keep those photos coming

[kueks29]

A little bird chirped just that it should be the next M3 engine is a further development of the S65. But it's not the standard version, but from which the GTS!
Off two cylinders, turbos on it and finish the new engine ...

[USC2000]

Loving those rear fender flares.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by aajami

I don't think the M4 monikor has been fully baked yet. While it sounds like the F32 and F33 will be called the 4-series, I think there's still some internal debate within BMW about losing the cache that the M3 name carries.

Assuming that both the 4 series moniker and the 4 series GC do indeed come to pass (most of us agree at this point that these are pretty likely, yes?), and with an "F85" (I'll put that in quotes until we know the code for sure) GC from M division almost certain now too, I'd say that the M4 moniker is all but guaranteed to show up on that car.

With that in mind, and knowing the sedan is obviously slated to continue to wear the M3 moniker, I really can't imagine them deciding to put the M3 name on the coupe instead of the M4 name. Add to that the fact that I'll bet almost no one cares if they change the oft-derided convertible to M4, consider that a good bet too, so now we are up to two M4 body styles.

At that point, putting the M3 name on the coupe begins to sound somewhat ridiculous, to me at least. Granted there's a lot speculation in all of that, but does anyone really see the momentum headed in any other direction?

[Uli_HH]

And there is an rumor, that where the M3 gets wide round fenders, the M4 gets wide squared fenders with an flat top ... like the old E30 M3.

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

How could they become their own sub-brand? Their actions in the past year have been the opposite.

BMW have started putting M-badges on every car. The newest being the M-diesels and the F21 M135i.

I can see this becoming a short term money grab. The dilution of the M-brand will eventually bite them in the ass.

Their own brand thing comes from SCOTT26, the BMW insider on the boards.

I wrote several posts expressing my dislike of the ///M badge being put in a lot more places. But they're going to go ahead with it anyway. And "people in the know" keep saying the "real" M cars will continue to stand out, and that these "halfway" M cars will be deserving of some distinction. Ok, I will wait and see.

[Sales@AUTOcouture]

Tri turbo

[SCOTT26]

How could they become their own sub-brand? Their actions in the past year have been the opposite.

BMW have started putting M-badges on every car. The newest being the M-diesels and the F21 M135i.

I can see this becoming a short term money grab. The dilution of the M-brand will eventually bite them in the ass.

That it of course your opinion. But in mainland Europe , M knows that there is a customer base who would not only like Performance from an M but also greater efficiency to offset heavy tax burdern but also all-Wheel-Drive for trips to many winter resorts and weather conditions especially in the Northern parts of Europe. To add all this to a conventional M makes it laden with more weight when customers are looking for less weight.

M Performance is the next best thing - The alternative. And in general interest and first orders, the F11 550d xDrive Touring is leading the pack.
In a way it is a money grab because M has to sustain itself in the long term and if BMW M Performance cars make M more specialised and experimental, then it will be worth it in the end.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by Uli_HH

And there is an rumor, that where the M3 gets wide round fenders, the M4 gets wide squared fenders with an flat top ... like the old E30 M3.

Not liking this. Here a comparision, I prefere the round fenders than the squared fenders.





RS4 B7 looks better than RS4 B8.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

If they do put M4 badges on. Lets start a revolt and all owners put M3 badges on their coupes. Screw bmw.

I don't understand why some people get so hung up on what a car should be named. This same argument came up when the 1M was being released as well. As long as the new car drives and performs well, who cares what they call it?

Originally Posted by SchnellM3

Needs More Power Dome

The E9x M3 needed the power dome for clearance around the engine, function before form in that case. If the new car doesn't have an engine clearance issue under the hood, why bother putting a power dome on it? Is it just for it to look more powerful? Doing that would make it form before function.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by kueks29

A little bird chirped just that it should be the next M3 engine is a further development of the S65. But it's not the standard version, but from which the GTS!
Off two cylinders, turbos on it and finish the new engine ...

So whether it's a V6 based on the S65B44 or the S63tu, he displacement still comes out to be 3.3L.

Turbos aside, what are some of the key differences between the 4.4L S65 in the GTS/CRT and the S63?

[aajami]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Assuming that both the 4 series moniker and the 4 series GC do indeed come to pass (most of us agree at this point that these are pretty likely, yes?), and with an "F85" (I'll put that in quotes until we know the code for sure) GC from M division almost certain now too, I'd say that the M4 moniker is all but guaranteed to show up on that car.

With that in mind, and knowing the sedan is obviously slated to continue to wear the M3 moniker, I really can't imagine them deciding to put the M3 name on the coupe instead of the M4 name. Add to that the fact that I'll bet almost no one cares if they change the oft-derided convertible to M4, consider that a good bet too, so now we are up to two M4 body styles.

At that point, putting the M3 name on the coupe begins to sound somewhat ridiculous, to me at least. Granted there's a lot speculation in all of that, but does anyone really see the momentum headed in any other direction?

I'm not arguing for the point I was trying to make. No doubt, I see the same momentum that you do, taking BMW to a unified naming convention for sedans, coupes, 4-door coupes, SUVs, and XAVs. I was simply relaying the fact that arguments within the company continue to persist at some level about not losing the M3 brand -- the same arguments that took place (and won) before the introduction of the E9X and E9XM.

And Uli's comment about the M4 getting different styling treatment from the M3 (square fenders vs. round fenders, among other differences) coincide with Scott's earlier statements about BMW wanting to separate the two cars even more with this forthcoming generation. If the two cars are going to look markedly different, then it stands to reason that they be called something different as well. Unfortunately, I think that separation will be reflected in the price difference too, if the 30% gap between the M5 and M6 sticker price is any indication.

[positiveions]

is that a camera on the roof? or a microphone?

[krnnerdboy]

This will be out just in time to trade in my boss. Although If its only marginally quicker than an e90m then I'll pass.... But forced induction and lighter weight looks promising

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

This will be out just in time to trade in my boss. Although If its only marginally quicker than an e90m then I'll pass.... But forced induction and lighter weight looks promising

With more power, and certainly gobs more torque along with less weight, how could it be anything but a good bit quicker than the E9x?

[vladberca]

The differences might be somehow the same with those between F10 M5 vs E60 M5!

[Blip Bavarian]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

This will be out just in time to trade in my boss. Although If its only marginally quicker than an e90m then I'll pass.... But forced induction and lighter weight looks promising

The new car will be much more cost efficient to add aftermarket power. a tune and breather mods should easily put this car north of 500 at the crank. Hopefully the early tuning success with the n63/s63 is a sign of whats to come for the new M3!!

...And as others have said the factory difference in torque will be big!

[Blip Bavarian]

Are the wheels on these mules 19s or 20s?

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

That it of course your opinion. But in mainland Europe , M knows that there is a customer base who would not only like Performance from an M but also greater efficiency to offset heavy tax burdern but also all-Wheel-Drive for trips to many winter resorts and weather conditions especially in the Northern parts of Europe. To add all this to a conventional M makes it laden with more weight when customers are looking for less weight.

M Performance is the next best thing - The alternative. And in general interest and first orders, the F11 550d xDrive Touring is leading the pack.
In a way it is a money grab because M has to sustain itself in the long term and if BMW M Performance cars make M more specialised and experimental, then it will be worth it in the end.

It is all Marketing. Thats it...nothing else.

[airwave808]

I am not sold just yet.

[positiveions]

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

I wrote several posts expressing my dislike of the ///M badge being put in a lot more places.

I don't like that either, but they are doing it for marketing purposes. They figured the average Joe is not going to afford an //M car, why not slap //M badges on their non //M models and call it a day.
//M badges= more $$$.
However, a person must admit that BMW will upgrades few components here and there. Take for example The E46 ZHP model. Cams have been upgraded, suspension components, shifter, SW, etc...

[Anderw]

Looking Good I Can't Wait Till They Post The Performance Figures