Rumor: BMW M3 to Receive Six Cylinder Turbo - 1 Series M is a go

WOW!!! All these cut backs on engine sizes. The beginning of the end for the automotive performance sector is upon us.

"The report states that a new six-cylinder will be employed but it is not the same 3.0-litre twin turbo that is used in the 135i and 335i ranges. Two turbos are likely to be fitted instead of just one." The current 3.0 liter turbo of BMW (135i, 335i etc) is actually a twin-turbo. http://www.worldcarfans.com/2060705.006/4

what's next, hybrid or gas powered M's????????

A V-6 in a BMW?! TRAGIC! Stick with the inline 6 configuation!

i doubt the v6 part but i think the new X5/X6 M engine that boasts 550+hp will be reused or similar setup but a v6.

I think to focus on lighter cars is the way forward, v8s are sweet and so are iron blocked straight sixes, but the weight of performance cars now (AMGs and Ms) affect the ride quality resulting in super stiff suspension, its about time people get comfort, speed and economy from the top models. Modern trannies will also make up for the power deficit big time.

thats nothing new. There are informations on the net that all of the M engines will in future be based on the regular BMW enginges, but will be equipped with different setups (like turbos and so on).

Very sad news. I hope the twin-turbo setup will move from parallel twin-turbo used in current x35i to the "variable" twin-turbo already in use on the x35d (small + big sequential twin-turbo). It won't make them M engines though: M doesn't mean as powerful as possible but exciting with high-revving N/A engines.

I don't see why this is sad news. We all know how special BMW motors are, but tradition cannot stop forward thinking about design and engineering. Traditionally I am a Mercedes guy, but I love BMW's philosophy (as well as Porsche) of making smaller displacement engines that rev like crazy and achieve 100hp/liter and higher. The only thing they will have to contend with from Mercedes is the torque figures, which Mercedes usually stomps everyone with. I look forward to BMW's and Mercedes' motors born from their new philosophy. Give them both a few years and I bet we will see some astonishing performance figures.

God damn hippies...

Our dogma should not get in the way of our karma.

If they put a turbo setup into the M3 i would guess it wouldn't be Twin-turbo but bi-turbo instead. Even with variable flow turbos they have a limited range, if they want 20-25psi without lag it would have to be 2 different size variable turbos. There are people out there that have turbo M3s with the Inline 6 running 32psi of boost and hitting 730whp, there is lots of room for power out of the old 3.2L I6.

It would be nice to go back to the traditional Inlin6 with an iron block single VNT turbo w/decent compression (10.5:1cr), run full dry-sump, & Cylinder head with Direct injection. And add dual VANOS with variable lift..ala Porsche Variocam plus.

they return to what audi already did except the rs6

If (my beloved) BMW even does the R&D on a V-6 engine, I will officially cancel my lifetime fan-status, I've stuck with you through all the changes, BMW, but a V-6 would be absolutely, totally, unforgivable. What's next, front-wheel drive? It'd probably be a sweet V-6 though.