In the rush to make cars roomier, more comfortable, and safer, it seems like every successive generation gets heavier and heavier. Even dedicated sports cars aren’t immune to this inevitable drift towards portliness, with a few notable exceptions (the Mazda MX-5 Miata readily comes to mind). Now, it’s looking like you can add the next-generation BMW M3 to that list as well.

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The Full Story

The up-and-coming next-generation BMW M3 is currently in development, as evidenced by recently spied test mules out and about on public roads. And of course, with the highly anticipated arrival of such a popular model, the speculation train is running strong.

Adding fuel to the fire is a recent report from Autocar, which states the next-gen M3 will weigh less than the current M3 CS.

As a reminder, the current M3 CS tips the scales at just 3,494 pounds.

Partly responsible for this will be a revamped set of underpinnings courtesy of Bimmer’s CLAR platform, which incorporates materials like high-strength steel and aluminum to help cut weight. Additional carbon fiber components will also add lightness, with large body pieces like an all-carbon roof replacing the weighty metal alternatives.

Less weight is almost always a good thing, but it’s expected the new M3 will get more muscle as well thanks to a series of upgrades to the current model’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. For the moment, the engine spins out as much as 454 horsepower in CS guise and 425 horsepower in standard form, but the new M3 could see a boost to 465 ponies as standard. And that’ll make the go-faster variants that much more potent.

Autocar thinks the extra grunt could come partly from the integration of a water injection system similar to that of the current BMW M4 GTS. The incorporation of a mild hybrid system is also a possibility.

Both a manual and automatic transmission should be offered, with customers given the choice between either a six-speed stick, or an eight-speed slush box. Power will be sent to the rear wheels exclusively, as BMW will reportedly stick with the classic FR sports car layout over a weighty, complicated AWD system.

That said, the M3 should still take some of its tech from the rest of Bimmer’s lineup, including the 7 Series and the 5 Series, with the addition of active rear steering making the list of possibilities.

Despite the decrease in weight, the new M3’s exterior dimensions are expected to grow a bit, with an extra 20 mm (0.8 inches) added to the wheelbase and 60 mm (2.4 inches) added to the car’s overall length.

Outside, the next-gen M3 will get a few aesthetics upgrades and aero improvements, most likely pulled from the recently revealed 2019 BMW 8 series. The same goes for the interior as well.

All told, these upgrades should make for a rather impressive machine. Look for the next-gen M3 to steal sales from the Mercedes-AMG C63 when it goes on sale in 2020.

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Engine Type

3.0-Liter I-6 Turbocharged

Engine Technology

M TwinPower Turbo technology with two mono-scroll turbochargers, High Precision Direct Fuel Injection, fully variable valve timing (VALVETRONIC) and variable camshaft control (Double-VANOS)

Output (HP @ RPM)

425 @ 5500–7300

Torque (LB-FT @ RPM)

406 @ 1,850–5,500

Transmission

Six-speed manual gearbox (optional: Seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission)

Acceleration (0-60 MPH)

4.1 Sec (W/ Manual) / 3.9 Sec. (W/ M-DCT)

Top Speed

155 mph


Further Reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 BMW M3

Read our full review on the 2018 BMW M3 CS.

Read our full review on the 2017 BMW M3.

Read more BMW news.