New BMW M3 and M4: First official details

BMW has revealed the first official details on the 2014 BMW M3 and BMW M4, which debuts at the Detroit Motor Show with a 424bhp 3.0 litre.

The rumours have been rife for some time on the new BMW M3 and on the replacement for the M3 Coupe – the new BMW M4. But now we get official details.

We did expect there would be some differences between the new M3 saloon and the new M4 Coupe, but under the skin all is going to be much the same; a 3.0 litre direct injection petrol delivering 424bhp and more than 369lb/ft of torque.

The new S55 engine is the same basic engine as the M55 4.0 litre, which means it’s almost a litre smaller in capacity than the old M3, but despite that drop in capacity the new engine delivers 10bhp more than the old M3’s 4.0 litre V8 and in the process delivers an extra 38bhp per litre. That’s more power per litre than the M5.

And the new engine is light too thanks to stuff like spray coating instead of cylinder liners, forged crankshaft and lightweight pistons, and the new M4 Coupe comes in at under 1500kg.

That’s not just because the M3 and M4 have a lighter engine, but thanks to stuff like carbon fibre reinforced plastic panels which will help the new M3/M4 offer a better output per tonne than the old M3.

It did seem a distinct possibility that BMW wouldn’t offer a manual option on the M3/M4, but in fact they come with a standard six-speed manual ‘box with a development of the seven-speed dual-clutch auto an option, both driving the rear wheels via a new single piece carbon fibre reinforced prop shaft – saving even more weight.

BMW also say the M3/M4 gets the Air Curtain and M gills with integrated Air Breather to cut turbulance, aluminium suspension for more weight saving and electric steering with 3 function modes – COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ – as well as the option of adaptive suspension and ceramic brakes.

It’s a proper technological tour de force from BMW which should see the new M3 and M4 setting new benchmarks when it arrives in 2014 after a debut at the Detroit Auto Show.