With the new BMW M3 and M4 barely just coming to market, a new set of rumors pop up on the interwebs. Motoring Australia sat down with Carston Pries, Head of Product Management, BMW M Division, who allegedly hinted at a next-gen M3/M4 being propelled by a 4-cylinder powerplant.
Pries said: “We don’t start our design process with power output in mind. We have a set of characteristics that a new model must meet. For sure, you could see a future M3 motivated by a 4-cylinder powertrain.” Furthermore, he said the downsizing trend is likely to continue in future generations so a smaller engine could work then. If we have a vehicle with less mass, it’s foreseeable that performance targets we set could be reached with a 4-cylinder, he added.
Now, of course, these are just chit-chats between the M Executives and journalists, and with a 7 years product cycle, things can change in many ways. We believe Pries simply wanted to point out that a lighter M3/M4 combined with a highly tuned-up four banger could meet the expectations and satisfy the requirements of M customers.
BMW community is still dreaming about another E30 M3m, a model considered many times as being the best M3 of all times. However, reality is that most likely we will never see one in spite of all the lightweight technology advancements and carbon fiber. The significant weight savings will always be counterbalanced by the amenities and options, which present customers, need and safety features in a car. Even the all-new BMW M2 won’t make use of a 4-cylinder and it will stick to a 3.0 liter 6-cylinder turbocharged engine.
