BMW M3 spied testing

The next BMW M3 has been scooped testing. A new generation 3 Series saloon has been spotted wearing 19-inch alloys (an inch bigger than the current M3’s standard wheels) housing huge crossed-drilled brakes all round.

You can also clearly see the front-mounted intercooler in these shots, and while it’s certain that the 414bhp 4.0-litre V8’s been replaced by a turbocharged six, speculation of a 450bhp triple-turbo version (with one turbocharger for each pair of cylinders) has gained momentum following BMW’s release of its M-badged triple-turbo diesels. 

 

The current M3’s pronounced bonnet bulge has disappeared, as there’s no need for it because the new engine is not as tall as the V8, but nonetheless the muscular theme continues with the exterior. The front bumper has been masked to cover the enlarged brake ducts to cool those larger stoppers, but the quad-exhaust arrangement at the rear is similar to the outgoing model’s. It’s also clear that the wheelarches have been extended to cover the wider track and bigger wheels. 

The BMW M3 is due in showrooms in 2014 with the Coupe version expected to arrive first, priced at around £60,000. These pictures show the saloon, which will arrive later in 2014 at around £51,000 for a manual.