Tag Archives: M3

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The Next BMW M3 Inline-Six Heads Into a Hybrid Future

BMW’s M division is writing a new chapter in one of its most celebrated stories. The next-generation M3 Sedan—known internally as the G84—is officially in development, and yes, it will still pack an internal combustion engine. BMW M CEO Frank van Meel has confirmed the car’s existence, and now, thanks to a set of spy shots, we’re getting our first look at the next evolution of Munich’s performance icon in motion.

The Mule Takes Shape

The prototype recently spotted in testing isn’t yet wearing its final production skin. Instead, it’s cloaked in a mix of widened fenders, temporary panels, and development camouflage—classic BMW pre-production attire. Even so, its proportions tell a story: this M3 has a broader stance and a more planted look than the current G80 model, signaling tweaks to both chassis geometry and suspension setup.

Peek closer, and you’ll notice familiar M hallmarks. The test car rides on lightweight M aluminum wheels shod in wide rubber, with cross-drilled brake rotors and massive M calipers visible behind them. Around back, the quad exhaust setup—a tradition stretching back to the E46 M3—leaves no doubt about what kind of prototype this is.

A New Face for the M3

Underneath the camouflage, there’s a hint of what’s to come for BMW’s design language. The G84’s front end appears to move away from the polarizing, oversized kidney grilles of recent M models. Instead, the prototype shows an elongated, horizontal grille layout, reminiscent of the Neue Klasse concept cars and the upcoming all-electric M3 (ZA0). Slim, dual-LED headlight units flank the grille, though the rest of the bumper design remains under thick covers.

From the side, flush door handles further tie this prototype to BMW’s future design direction, while at the rear, a subtle trunk lip and the signature M quad pipes carry the brand’s DNA forward. The taillights are still heavily disguised, suggesting BMW isn’t ready to show off the final light signature just yet.

Under the Hood: Six Cylinders, Now Electrified

While the exterior still hides in plain sight, insiders are already sketching the G84’s mechanical blueprint. Expect a 3.0-liter inline-six engine, likely an evolved version of the S58 unit, paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The small electric assist won’t turn the M3 into a hybrid heavyweight but will instead sharpen throttle response, smooth out low-end torque, and improve efficiency—similar in philosophy to Porsche’s upcoming 911 Hybrid.

Sources suggest power will start around 525 horsepower, with higher-output versions pushing closer to 560 hp. The hybrid integration isn’t about chasing numbers; it’s about maintaining balance, response, and precision—the qualities that have always defined the M3’s character.

Farewell, Manual

There’s one inevitable casualty of progress: the manual transmission. The new M3 will reportedly launch exclusively with an eight-speed automatic paired with xDrive all-wheel drive. With the G80/G82 M3/M4 and G87 M2 marking the end of manual M cars, the G84 will carry the torch for BMW’s performance future without the clutch pedal. Purists, take a deep breath—this is the reality of the modern performance car landscape.

Why Not Plug-In?

In contrast to the larger M5, which embraces a plug-in hybrid system, the M3 will deliberately avoid the PHEV route. BMW’s engineers argue that the extra battery weight and packaging demands would dull the car’s agility and compromise its track-day readiness. Instead, the lighter mild-hybrid setup offers a way to meet tightening emissions targets without sacrificing the M3’s razor-sharp handling.

The Road Ahead

The G84 M3 isn’t expected to debut before 2028, but its early test outings are a clear sign that BMW intends to keep the M3 nameplate alive well into the hybrid age. The brand’s challenge is clear: merge cutting-edge efficiency tech with the raw, emotional performance that made the M3 a legend.

If these first glimpses are any indication, BMW might just be on the right track—literally. The M3’s next chapter won’t abandon its roots; it will evolve them, bridging the past and the future one turbocharged, electrified rev at a time.

Source: BMWBlog

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BMW’s First Full-Fat Electric M3 Spotted: Codename ZA0

BMW M has long thrived on one thing: combustion fury. From the sonorous S14 four-cylinder in the E30 M3 to today’s twin-turbocharged inline-six in the G80, the formula has been clear—fast revs, raw sound, and that elusive balance between muscle and precision. But the brand’s future won’t be fueled by premium unleaded. Enter “ZA0”—the codename for the first-ever all-electric M3, a car that could redefine Munich’s most iconic performance badge.

The First Real M Without Pistons

While BMW already offers electric M Performance models, ZA0 is the first true M car with zero tailpipe emissions. Think of it as the next chapter in the M3 lineage—just without the burbling inline-six. Recent spy shots caught the prototype hammering around the Nürburgring, and while it’s still cloaked in the brand’s trademark swirl camouflage, the car is starting to show its hand.

The front bumper sheds a little disguise, revealing lower air intakes—not for feeding turbos, but for cooling electric motors and battery packs. The reinterpreted kidney grille, influenced by the Vision Neue Klasse concept, looks sealed but may hide active flaps to balance cooling and aerodynamics. Close the shutters, and you extend range; open them, and the car breathes harder during hot laps.

New Materials, Old Tricks

One of the quirks of this test mule is its possible use of flax-based composites. BMW has been experimenting with natural fibers to replace carbon fiber, and the M division is already claiming a 40-percent reduction in CO₂e emissions compared with traditional carbon roofs. The swirly prototype might be hiding just that—a natural-fiber roof where carbon once reigned.

Other details: unfinished taillights, missing M-style mirrors, and riveted camo panels hiding bodywork lines. At the back, a subtle lip spoiler recalls the current M3’s proportions, though BMW is clearly working hard to keep the final design under wraps.

Big Shoes, Bigger Tires

The EV M3 doesn’t ride on dainty eco-rubber. Earlier prototypes were seen with Michelin Pilot Sport 5s, mounted on 20-inch rear wheels. Behind them lurk massive brakes—another reminder that this isn’t a softened i4 M50 but a purpose-built M car. Flared fenders and a hunkered stance further confirm it. Don’t let the bulky test bumpers fool you; the finished product will be sleeker and more aggressive.

The Twin Futures of the M3

For those who can’t stomach an M3 without a straight-six, relief is coming in the form of the G84, due around 2028. It’ll carry a reworked version of the S58 inline-six with mild-hybrid tech to meet emissions rules. Word is it’ll be xDrive only, automatic only, and potentially the last combustion-powered M3 ever. That makes today’s G80—with its six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive—the final bastion for purists. Buy now, or forever hold your peace.

Why This Matters

BMW’s M division has always prided itself on adapting—whether it was turbocharging in the F80 era or all-wheel drive in today’s G80. The jump to electric power is simply the next evolution. If ZA0 can deliver the response, balance, and driver engagement that define an M3, then history won’t repeat—it’ll recharge.

One thing is clear: the M3’s DNA isn’t going away. It’s just learning to hum instead of roar.

Source: BMWBlog

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How BMW’s Rarest M3 Became Immortal

Some cars are rare. Some are special. And then there’s the BMW M3 GTR—so scarce it makes a McLaren F1 look like a fleet car. This thing is basically motorsport’s unicorn… if the unicorn also happened to be a steroid-pumped Bavarian that screams to 10,000 rpm.

In 2025, according to Thomas Plucinsky of BMW Group Classic USA, there are just three track-only GTRs left on Earth. The road-legal Strassenversion? Same story—only a handful exist, each costing €250,000 when new. At the time, that made it the most expensive BMW you could buy. That’s right: a quarter of a million euros, for what was essentially an M3 with a very bad temper and a wardrobe made entirely of carbon fiber.

Fast forward to the Petersen Automotive Museum’s 3 Series 50th anniversary bash. Seven generations of BMW’s bread-and-butter icon were lined up, from crisp classics to turbocharged tech-fests. But there, glowering in the corner, was the GTR—the only E46 to swap its silky straight-six for a 4.0-liter IndyCar-derived V8, known to fanatics as the P60B40. In 2001, this thing bulldozed the ALMS GT series, taking first and third in seven out of ten races. BMW basically turned up, shouted “Your rules are stupid,” and then won everything in sight.

Naturally, the rule-makers didn’t take kindly to being pantsed so thoroughly, and by 2002 the GTR was politely banned. BMW returned in 2003 with a smaller straight-six for the Grand-Am series, won the 2004 championship anyway, and then retired in 2006—presumably out of boredom.

But legends don’t like staying dead. In 2015, BMW resurrected the GTR in full 2001 battle dress: carbon panels, NACA duct to feed the driver something vaguely resembling fresh air, bespoke BBS wheels, and even the last hex nut ever installed on a BMW Motorsport car. The result? The ultimate “get stuffed” to Father Time.

And it almost didn’t happen. After its racing days, the GTR was stripped and scattered across storage bins like someone had accidentally hit “delete” on the car. It took BMW Group Classic USA and the original 2001 race crew a year and a half of hunting, bolting, and swearing to bring it back to life. Today, it’s the last operational M3 GTR in existence—a roaring, snarling, V8 reminder that sometimes, the good guys really do get the last laugh.

Source: BMW