BMW is thought to be swiftly developing a rival to
the Audi S4 and Mercedes-AMG C43 dubbed the M340i. It recently took a heavily
disguised prototype of the sports sedan to the Nurburgring.
The new M340i will be based around the next-generation 3-Series to be unveiled in 2018
for the 2019 model year in North America. While it’ll be eclipsed by
more-powerful and faster M3 models, it won’t be slow.
It is believed that the M340i may
receive the same B58 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine as the M240i. That means it
should offer up at least 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, making it only
marginally slower than the BMW M2.
The G20 3-Series will
debut with a host of new technologies and of course, an overhauled design.
Perhaps of most importance will be the addition of various electrified variants
to the range, including one with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine and
an electric motor as well as a slightly more powerful version combining a
larger electric motor with a 2.0-liter unit.
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