First Ever BMW F80 M3 Video for a Live Look and Listen!
16
REPLIES
Exciting news! After several sets of spy shots, we're happy to finally share the very first spy video of the 2014 M3 Sedan, internally dubbed the F80. As usual, this video provides a much more dynamic impression of the car than photos. No surprise that the new M3 looks very planted as it's sitting fairly low and shows no body roll in these (admittedly) urban driving scenes. Overall, the M3 with its M bumpers and bulging wheel arches looks pugnacious and much more aggressive than the F30 3-series in the F30 spy photos/videos.
What's new in this video besides the live view and sounds? Looking at the F80 from behind, you can finally make out the limited slip differential and two mid pipes running from the engine to the mufflers (screen caps below).
The F80's seamless gear changes suggest that this car is equipped with DCT transmission, but expect a manual transmission to be also available -- hopefully globally.
So... what does it sound like? This is subjective criteria, but we think the engine/exhaust sounds terrific. We've listened to it about a dozen times but it does NOT sound like an inline-6 to us. We believe that this particular prototype may possibly be fitted with a Biturbo V6 (one of the engines being considered all along). For many, it's blasphemy to even think about a V6 for any BMW model, but consider this -- what's not to like about a high output bespoke V6 Biturbo? Keep in mind that this is also just a prototype so the car's sounds are surely still being tuned.
Expect a maximum power output in the ballpark of 450hp, which should be more than adequate as the new M3 is likely to weigh less than its predecessor.
According to a reliable source, the BMW F80 M3 Sedan will likely have its market launch in summer 2013 with the F82 M4 Coupe to debut in 2014. As we reported earlier, the E90 M3 sedan will end production this October while the E92/3 M3 coupe and convertible will be produced through June 2012 at least.
Be sure to follow our complete F80/F82 M3 coverage @
https://www.bimmerpost.com/m3/f30m3/
