Latest news with #BMWM3
Miami Herald
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Tomorrow's BMW 3 Series Will Make Today's M3 Sweat
An electric incarnation of the next BMW M3 was recently seen lapping Germany's Nürburgring, replete with the next-gen styling that was previewed by concepts like the i Vision Dee and Vision Neue Klasse. Now, it's the turn of the hottest non-M 3er to get a workout around the Green Hell, and it's going to bring with it more than just a fresh face as it chases after AMG C43s and Audi S5s. According to our spies - and common sense - BMW will be pushing the highly capable B58 turbocharged straight-six engine further with the next M340i, which, like other recent non-M updates, will include a new name: M350. Say goodbye to the 'i' suffix - it was confusing buyers who thought these cars might be electric, but that's inevitable when your naming strategy is confined to 10 digits and 26 letters, most of which are unused... The latest version of the M340i currently generates a peak of 386 horsepower - up from the previous limit of 382 hp, but as the JDM-spec Toyota GR Supra Final Edition proves, BMW's six-cylinder can handle much more. In that application, it delivers up to 429 hp, but our spies say to expect only around 400 in the M350. With a production commencement date expected to be around November next year, and any future M3 likely to deliver close to 600 hp, BMW could either choose to launch the M350 with as much as Toyota has extracted, or it could play the game the same way as it has with this G20 generation: start small and deliver more later. With emissions legislation varying on either side of the Atlantic and across the U.S., saving some performance could be prudent - even though hybridization is inevitable. For the 3 Series, the reconstructive surgery at the front will make the biggest impact, with the iconic kidney grille design being reinvented once more to shroud the headlights. It's bold, but elegant, and at the rear, we expect BMW to go with a classic rectangular light bar, which hasn't been so simple since the E30. And in the middle, a Hofmeister kink of sorts will continue at the C-pillar. Inside, BMW Panoramic Vision will take the tech up a notch and the physical switchgear down one or two, but the engineers won't let us close enough to see the cabin yet, so we'll have to wait a little while to see just how much changes, from the dashboard to the seats. Ever since the Chris Bangle 'flame surfacing' era, BMW has leaned further and further into grabbing attention by mixing traditional styling tropes with, shall we say, 'adventurous' modernism. Yet, no matter how far BMW pushes into the unknown, after a few years or less, the styling tends to grow on the average person - at least when it comes to sedans. For this new era, BMW will advance the design even more intentionally than the jump from the F- to G-Series; the company's presentations on styling have always made the point that the Neue Klasse vehicles being introduced from the second half of the decade will look like they "skipped a generation." But this time, we doubt there will be as much controversy. Not only do the concepts mentioned at the outset look well-proportioned, but despite what BMW says, the most recent M5 has already begun to take on the straight, sharp lines of those design studies, while taller vehicles like the X1 and X3 have similarly begun to look like the Vision Neue Klasse X SUV concept, helping all who see them mentally bridge the gap between current and future cars. That means the acclimatization period for future designs won't be long. And neither will the wait; with production supposedly commencing late 2026, prototypes will shed more camouflage through the year as production lighting and wheels are fitted, and we should start seeing teaser campaigns late this year or early next. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Motor 1
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The BMW M3 Touring Is Just Better Than the Sedan: Review
The BMW M3 was, at launch, a polarizing car. Not because of its power, nor due to its pedigree, but instead because of its odd maw. Time has been kind to the M3 (also the M4), and the public seems to have gotten used to the grille; the latest car isn't an unfamiliar sight on European roads, usually in a garish hue. A few years back, BMW teased the Touring spec (wagon to you and me), and the internet went crazy for it. People looking for performance and practicality finally had a new darling; the Audi RS4 and Mercedes-AMG C63 Estate had a new rival, and it was Bavarian. Quick Specs 2025 BMW M3 Touring Engine Twin-Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six Output 503 Horsepower / 479 Pound-Feet 0-62 MPH 3.2 Seconds Weight 4,078 Pounds Base Price £91,775 (UK) With a mid-cycle refresh, the M3 gets gentle exterior tweaks like sharper headlights and some interior fiddling like a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Plus, BMW gave it a gentle power bump that will undoubtedly raise a few more interested eyebrows. In the UK, at least, the M3 is only available in the Competition spec with an automatic. That means the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six fires 523 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic. Those numbers are the same whether you want a sedan, an M4 Coupe, or a Touring. Happily, in the load lugger, that means a fearsome 0-62 mph time of 3.6 seconds and a 155-mile-per-hour top speed—though, you can bump that to 174 miles per hour with more money. Plenty of grunt for people who need to do huge grocery runs in a big hurry. Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Pros: The Face Finally Fits, Astonishing Speed, So Much Room For Stuff Being a wagon, the Touring offers extra practicality over the M3 Sedan. Rather than a 16.9-cubic-foot trunk, there's now 17.6 cubic feet of space with the seats up, and a vast 53.3 with them down—by comparison, an X3 gets around 20 cubes with the seats up and 60 with the seats down. A bit less for the Touring, but it comes in a less gawky package. BMW UK's test car is a handsome beast. Finished in a subtle gray that helps the car's swoopy bits look suitably muscular without being overwhelming, the M3 Touring looks damn fine in a parking lot or stuck in London traffic. Thanks to its pace, the chances of being able to take it all in on the highway are… slim. Ahem. Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Inside, a big 'ol screen covers infotainment and instrument duties, and there are plenty of dramatic-looking surfaces to keep your eyes entertained if you get bored in traffic. Buried in there is the drive select screen, which allows you to flick between the usual drive modes or dive into the minutiae of the car to make various aspects angry or placid to suit your taste. You can even, with the right number of button presses, fiddle with the AWD system to make it a rear-biased monster, too. The level of choice is pleasing, but also a bit much—the modern need to have a car that can be all things to all people is justifiable, but in an M3, make the thing either wild or not wild. Giving Joe Blow the option to set the drivetrain, steering, and whatever else to be 'just so' seems sort of needless. Thankfully, the 'wheel-mounted M1 and M2 buttons allow you to map your setup of choice to a thumbable switch. Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Cons: Those Awful Seats, Jiggly Ride, Blinded By Settings The M3 Touring comes with the option of M Carbon bucket seats with hard, pointy bolsters flanking each side and a bizarre carbon fiber junk tray in the middle. And they can be had in some truly interesting colorways (here in blue and yellow, which goes at odds with the subtle gray exterior, a bit like a dark suit with a bright pink lining, I guess). When you're in them, though, they're outstanding. The buckets keep you in place, don't pinch your wibbly bits, and allow you to play without worrying you're going to slide into the door. However, when you want to get into or out of them, you have to clamber over the hard bolsters in a most undignified manner. It takes the shine off turning up to your destination in a shouty car with quad-pipes when you have to extract yourself from the seat with all the grace of a freshly birthed giraffe. For god's sake, don't spec them. Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 On the move, in its most inert setting, the M3's ride is the first thing you notice. A Range Rover it is not. While it'll take most roads well enough, the M3 is a little jiggly at low to middling speeds. Of course, this is to be expected from a car that prides itself on going very fast, so it isn't something you can legitimately complain about. But it is something you should know going in. Ride aside, in town it's just dandy to drive. It's a touch on the large side for London, which meant the odd bit of wincing in narrow lanes and tight parking lots (especially with the massive alloys at each corner). But this test car had a 360-degree camera to take the edge off. Obviously, the city isn't the right place for maximum attack mode, but giving the car a tickle to get through a small gap won't disappoint. The power is plentiful and delivered smoothly, though it does build with gusto, so keep an eye on the speedometer. Five hundred and twenty-three horsepower is a lot of grunt and needs to be deployed sensibly. On the highway, the M3 Touring is quiet, comfy, and smooth enough (though the ride can be a touch rough on nasty surfaces). Should you need to get past something, the go pedal will more than happily make that a reality. Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 The M3's real party trick is country lanes. Set the car to its most aggressive setting and let the thing do what it does best. The steering gives fantastic feedback, while the way it rides its torque curve is addictive and urgent. The acceleration doesn't seem to ever run out; it certainly doesn't let up until you reach the speed limit. Flicking from corner to corner, the car hides its 3,990-pound curb weight incredibly well. You expect its body to lollop from corner to corner, but no, it plants itself and grips merrily. It's a car that most people don't have the talent to touch the sides of, which is, considering how many of the things BMW has sold (nearly half of the M3s sold in the UK in 2023 had a long roof), probably a good thing. While the myriad modes are fun to mess with in the short term, you're best off leaving it in the normal setting for the daily stuff, and finding a 'mad' and a 'slightly more mad' setup for the programmable buttons for 'bad' or 'really bad' days at the office. No matter what you do with it, the M3 will blow the cobwebs away. Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 Photo by: Alex Goy | Motor1 In the real world, the Touring's extra lump doesn't mess with how it drives. There may be minute differences you notice if you're a pro driver, but chances are (and I hate to say this), you're not—so it doesn't matter. It does make the M3 at least look, scientifically speaking, 1,000 percent cooler. It also makes it a whole hell of a lot more practical. Simply put: The BMW M3 Touring is a more practical, better-looking M3. In fact, it's probably the best M3 of the lot. Just don't spec the stupid seats. More On The BMW M3 Touring BMW M3 CS Touring: This Is It If the M5 Touring Is Successful, We Could Get a New M3 Wagon in the US Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 2025 BMW M3 Touring Engine Twin-Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six Output 503 Horsepower / 479 Pound-Feet Transmission Eight-Speed Automatic Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Speed 0-62 MPH 3.2 Seconds Maximum speed 174 Miles Per Hour Weight 4,078 Pounds Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 17.6 / 53.3 Cubic Feet Base Price £91,775 (UK) On Sale Now Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Drive
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Watch a BMW Guru Design a 3D-Printable 1,800-HP Turbo Manifold
The latest car news, reviews, and features. I've gained a lot of respect for (and interest in) the power of 3D printing custom car parts after chatting with a 3D designer. Today, another really cool perspective on this style of manufacturing came across my desk—a video documenting the engineering of, as well as the fine-tuning of, custom turbo plumbing with parts that are 3D printed out of steel. The kicker is, the parts cost a lot less money than you might expect. Jon Volk is known in the custom BMW community for making exhaust manifolds that people attach turbos to and make big power with. You'll see his name pop up in plenty of old forum threads on E30 and E36 tuning, especially. Lately, you'll find him doing more with digital part engineering and 3D printing on his YouTube channel Couch Built where he's 'Building cars, mostly from the couch, with use of 3D scanning, Fusion360, and some bloody knuckles sprinkled in.' He's the guy behind the 13B rotary-powered BMW i8 project we wrote about earlier this year. In a new video he uploaded, he walks us through the process of designing a new exhaust manifold for an absolutely insane G80 BMW M3—a 1,000-plus horsepower monster owned by Jordan Horowitz. He's also a big Bimmer modder with a shop called RK Tunes on Long Island. The setup on this M3 is downright hilarious. You're looking at the opposite of a sleeper. Couch Built/YouTube I was initially intrigued by this video because of the 'it's cheaper than you thought' aspect of the title, but I got sucked in watching Volk showcase how he optimized the exhaust manifold design and general plumbing of the turbo kit on his computer. It's really neat to see the project come together. Volk explains how things are laid out and tweaked virtually, and then instead of sending plans to a fabricator like somebody might have done a few years ago, he simply sends his designs to a 3D printing company and gets them quoted. In this case, he's sponsored by JLC3DP, which 3D prints everything he mocked up for about $2,200. That's not a plastic mock-up piece, that's a real, steel, turbo kit (minus the turbo) that's nearly ready for installation when it arrives in the mail. That's comparable to the price of a high-quality performance header a decade ago. But don't get too excited, that price excludes a critical factor—Volk's time and expertise. The parts were only $2,200 once he knew what shape they had to be. If you need to pay somebody to do the design, that'll be a much bigger portion of your modding budget. At least, until AI can design an exhaust manifold (probably the not-too-distant future, honestly). Still, that's less money than you'd have spent on the fabrication of something like this in the past. And just the fact that this kind of single-unit manufacturing is available is pretty amazing. Check out the video of the design, take a look at what Volk had to do to clean up the part once it showed up. The clip will give you a sense of the current state of high-end exhaust tuning. Horowitz also uploaded a video about the part, which you can check out for even more context if you want to go deeper: I have so much respect for the engineers and tuners who can dial in stuff like this. I'm just happy if I can keep mice from eating my stock E46. Got a tip? Drop us a line at tips@
Canberra Times
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
Mercedes-Benz admits its G-Class EV is a "complete flop"
This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
All-electric BMW M3 spotted testing on public roads, to feature quad-motor setup
The upcoming BMW M3 EV is closer to being production-ready with flared wheel arches that bring a wide, mean look. (SH Proshots) Notify me The first-ever all-electric BMW M3 has been spotted testing on public roads, and it is closer to being production-ready. The German automaker is working on its upcoming range of Neue Klasse 3-series models, with the sportier M3 sibling to feature both electric and internal combustion engine (ICE)- powered variants. The electric model will likely be dubbed the iM3 and will carry over much of its design from the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept car. The new electric M3, internally codenamed 'ZA0,' is expected to be launched in 2027 as a MY28 model. It bears a long, flat front-end and a low beltline, alongside LED headlamps that blend seamlessly with a closed-off, wide kidney grille. The sedan comes riding on 20-inch wheels covered by prominent wheel arches. Earlier test mules that were spotted had their fenders camouflaged in a bold M-colour pattern. The change is subtle, but the chunky fenders will increase the width by over 70 mm when compared to the current-gen 330i. When combined with the lowered suspension, it gives the M3 electric a wider and aggressive look. A look into the test mule's cabin reveals the dashboard that features a wide, central touchscreen display, but the driver notably misses out on a gauge cluster. This is owed to the fact that the production versions of the Neue Klasse 3-series will employ the Panoramic iDrive system that BMW showcased earlier this year at CES 2025. This incorporates a centrally mounted tablet as well as a pillar-to-pillar heads-up display for instrumentation, navigation, and media controls. BMW M3 Electric: Battery and specifications BMW has been developing all-new electric powertrains for its next-generation EVs, aiming to improve overall efficiency by 20 per cent. The automaker has stated that it will mount up to four electric motors on its upcoming EVs, with the M models likely to embrace quad-motor setups. While specifics on power figures remain unclear, BMW is confident its Neue Klasse platform can push out one megawatt (1,341 bhp). The Vision Driving Experience (VDX) concept car that was unveiled earlier this year employed a quad-motor setup and is said to deliver over 1,300 bhp. The M3 EV is expected to follow suit with one electric motor for each wheel, delivering a combined output of over 700 bhp with the base model. While power may go higher with subsequent trims, figures reaching four digits do not make too much sense for what is essentially a D-segment sedan. The next-gen ICE-powered M3 will be sold alongside its all-electric sibling with minimal design changes. It will be equipped with a new mild-hybrid inline six-cylinder engine, likely paired with a 48V system. Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India. First Published Date: 05 Jun 2025, 12:34 PM IST
