Recently, we found out that the upcoming 2020 G80-Gen BMW M3 would come with a manual transmission. Although there was no official word or any other details available, we have now learned from BMW Blog that the manual M3 will not come with an all-wheel-drive system.

Old-School Manual Transmission For The Purists

If the new reports are to be believed, the upcoming M3 will be offered in sDrive and xDrive form. Although it was speculated that the M3 will be an all-wheel-drive vehicle with a 2WD mode like the M5, things are a bit clearer now, and BMW is all set to offer the best of both of the worlds to enthusiasts.

BMW could, however, still offer the 2WD mode on the xDrive. The xDrive will most likely be inclined towards sending power to the rear wheels and will power the front axle only when needed. Not to mention, the xDrive will come only with an automatic gearbox. The switchable M-tuned xDrive system, as seen on the M5, will make its way in the M3 as well.

There is a Bias

The all-wheel-drive automatic M3 will get more power than the rear-wheel-drive model, manual or automatic, but we don’t know how much more. Considering this power difference, we don’t think it's all that likely that the upcoming M3 will have a 2WD mode.

Will Give Stiff Competition to Rivals

Just like the M5 Competition, the M3 Competition will also feature enhanced power, sharper suspension tuning, steering with sharper feedback, less rubber bushings in the subframe and chassis for a more direct feel, and a more performance-tuned all-wheel-drive system.

Final Thoughts

With the M3, BMW will offer two drivetrain options for the first time. This makes a lot of sense as these cars are not just to rip the roads, but also make for good daily drivers. For now, all we can do is keep waiting for more details to be announced, or leaked. What are your thoughts on this smart move by BMW? Let us know in the comments section below.

Further Reading

Read everything we know in our speculative review of the 2020 BMW M3

Read our full review of the current, 2015-2018 BMW M3