Still Doubt BMW M3/M4 s55 Engine Will be Inline 6? Hear it From BMW NA CEO

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

Still Doubt BMW M3/M4 s55 Engine Will be Inline 6? Hear it From BMW NA CEO

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Last year, Mr. Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America, confirmed to us an inline 6 cylinder engine for the upcoming M3/M4, and we showed you spy photos of the engine. Despite these confirmations, stubborn rumors pop up periodically regarding a potential V6 configuration for the upcoming s55 engine.

If you needed any further convincing, now hear it from the BMW NA CEO himself (again). Speaking at an event that we are currently attending for the launch of the new X5 and 4 Series, Mr. Willisch references an inline engine for the M4 (and hence, M3), confirming he's really happy that "it is going to be a car that has the cylinders in one line." How would Mr. Willisch know? He was formerly the president of BMW M GmbH and the M4 was the last project we launched before moving on to head BMW NA. Listen to what he had to say:

Note: that is a 3 Series GT displayed behind Mr. Willisch.

To repeat our recent posts, technical specs have not yet been released for the M4, but we'll cover the first details in late September. For now, the specs we have collected from reliable sources, and from rumors/speculations can be seen in our M3/M4 compilation thread.

The production M4 coupe and M3 sedan will have simultaneous debuts at the 2014 NAIAS in Detroit in January. Ordering will be available beginning in January-February and production begins in the March-May window. Expect deliveries by early Summer.

As for pricing? As we've alluded to before, just because the M4 Concept looks expensive doesn't mean that the M3/M4 will be priced with a much higher premium than the outgoing E9x M3. BMW is trying its best to hold pricing close to the outgoing M3, albeit with adjustments made to reflect additional standard equipment that the F80 M3 and F82 M4 will feature.

As always, stay up to date on the latest BMW M3 and M4 news and features @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/m4/

[RMB]

Can't wait till the end of September for more details. I also have to say this is the best compilation of images and information anywhere out there on the web. Thanks for keeping it updated and so well put together.

[solstice]

Excellent. One down.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by RMB

Can't wait till the end of September for more details. I also have to say this is the best compilation of images and information anywhere out there on the web. Thanks for keeping it updated and so well put together.

Can't wait for some details at the end of Sept!

Totally agree that Jason/Scott (and some others here on Bimmerpost) always have best and most current info/pics of upcoming models.

[GOLFFRR]

[Diesel///M]

Can't wait to see what it ends up having for power

[Boss330]

Good stuff

[MusclesCoupe]

Now we just need actual power numbers

[SCOTT26]

Finally we can end this pointless debate.

I hate to think how many dead horses there are since this started?

[solstice]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Finally we can end this pointless debate.

I hate to think how many dead horses there are since this started?

It's only pointless to the people who know the answer. If BMW find our speculations pointless they can end it all, right now by giving us all the specs.

Hear saying and spy photos won't cut it for some of us. I needed to see the pipes underneath the "concept" to be convinced ( thanks for those Jason! ) and this statement by the BMW NA CEO ( thanks again! ) puts the nail in the coffin but before this there was not sufficient info to call it with 100% accuracy.

[Transfer]

I dunno. His intonation at the start compared to the end... sounded different. Two different Ludwig Willisch's??

[Matski]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Finally we can end this pointless debate.

I hate to think how many dead horses there are since this started?

The only quantity of horses I'm worried about, is how many there are in that I6 Tri-Turbo!

[mkoesel]

I love it.

Though I imagine the conspiracy theorists are going to say that he's just saying that to keep the secret safe.

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Finally we can end this pointless debate.

I hate to think how many dead horses there are since this started?

I hadn't realised people were still debating it Scott. We saw the engine ages ago, perhaps this video still won't be enough to convince the V6 conspiracy theorists.

Do you fancy putting an end to the debate on whether BMW are developing a supercar? I know

[melloww22]

I doubt it will be a tri-turbo but a twin turbo for sure

[brio]

Well, he only said the cylinders will be in one line....4 cylinders are inline as well...aren't they?
Just kidding.. Dont start the attacks.

[gblansten]

Good to know. On the other hand, is he wearing a magical hat?

[positiveions]

Good to know.

[kmarei]

for how the S55 will look like
go check out the N63 engine and compare that to the S63
and then go look at the N55 and add the extra bits on the S63
and there you have it

[brio]

Originally Posted by gblansten

Good to know. On the other hand, is he wearing a magical hat?

I was thinking the same thing...WTF is he wearing on his head?

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by brio

I was thinking the same thing...WTF is he wearing on his head?

I'm guessing it's grey hair doing something weird with the screen right behind his head. But it that's a glowing hat it does tend to undermines his claims about the motor.

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by gblansten

I'm guessing it's grey hair doing something weird with the screen right behind his head. But it that's a glowing hat it does tend to undermines his claims about the motor.

It's likely pre production camo, his head will be revealed end of Sept.