The new M3 is set to receive a heavily reworked 450bhp version of BMW’s N55 turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six engine, seen most recently in the 640i and the M135i. Details remain scarce, but it's unlikely that much of the standard direct-injection petrol unit will remain for its application in the new M3.
In a bid to match the performance levels of the Audi RS4 and RS5 and Mercedes-Benz's C63 AMG saloon and coupé models, the new engine is expected to deliver in the region of 450bhp and around 480lb ft of torque. That’s 36bhp and 80lb ft more than the fourth-generation M3’s naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 engine.
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