BMW already considering four cylinders for next M3
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-m3-heritage/"><img alt="BMW M4 (F82) and M3 (E30)" data-credit="BMW" data-mep="253056" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/b6308f1e858824807b56b6111 35dadae/200107397/bmw-m3-old-new.jpg" /></a><br />
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The cylinder count in BMW's M3 has fluctuated over the years. The original <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/m3/">M3</a> debuted in 1985 packing a 2.3-liter inline-four, but subsequent models went with sixes until the outgoing generation upped the cylinder count to eight. With its latest model, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> has dropped back to six cylinders with a pair of turbos taking the place of the extra pistons. But the next M3 sedan and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/m4/">M4</a> coupe could go back to the model line's roots with a four-cylinder engine.<br />
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Speaking with BMW M product manager Carsten Pries at the launch of the latest M3 and M4 in Portugal, our Aussie compatriots at <a href="http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2014/sports/bmw/four-for-m-43418"><em>Motoring.com.a u</em></a> report that "you could see a future [M3] powered by a four-cylinder engine." Offsetting the reduction in cylinders, the lighter engine would benefit the vehicle's weight and balance, thus enhancing performance.<br />
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We wouldn't expect the next M3 and M4 to lose any power in the process, though: Output in the M3 has only risen over the generations, from 192 horsepower in the four-pot original to 282 hp in the six-cylinder E36, 338 hp in the six-cylinder E46, 414 hp in the V8 E90 and 425 ponies in the new turbocharged six-cylinder F80 model. With that latter model having just debuted, it'll likely be a good six or seven years before the next version comes along, giving <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> plenty of time to settle on an engine - however many cylinders and turbochargers it has. In the meantime, you'll have to forgive us for taking <span style="font-size: 14px;">a romp down M3 memory lane in the fresh gallery of images above.</span><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/13/bmw-m3-4-cylinder-model-future/">BMW already considering four cylinders for next M3</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 13 May 2014 13:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/13/bmw-m3-4-cylinder-model-future/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20884056/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/13/bmw-m3-4-cylinder-model-future/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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