With the September unveiling date fast
approaching, the new generation BMW M3, which is expected to be one of the best
driver’s cars of the year, has started showing more of its design, including
the huge kidney grille. Similar in styling to the one worn by the latest
4-Series Coupe, the controversial feature, which occupies a massive chunk of
the front end, from hood to apron and from headlight to headlight, is flanked
on the lower part of the bumper by two additional large air intakes.
We can see two more cutouts in front of
the wheels, which probably serve as extra cooling for the brakes, and a
sculpted rear bumper that ends with an aggressively styled diffuser that
incorporates the rounded quad exhaust pipes. Other defining visual features of
the car include the bulging fenders, a thin boot lid spoiler, bigger side
skirts, model-specific wheels and plenty of M badges.
Purists will be glad to know that the
entry-level M3 (and M4) will be offered with a six-speed manual transmission
and rear-wheel drive. The xDrive all-wheel drive system, tuned by the M
Division to perform similarly to the bigger M5’s, will launch later on for the
more powerful Competition trims.
A 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six
engine will provide the firepower and will kick out 473 HP in
the base variants of the M3 and M4. Choosing the Competition will get you 503
HP and 650 Nm of torque.
