According to Autocar, the G80 generation M3 will make use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre to cut weight to below that of the CS’ 1 585kg, yet retain the standard car’s CLAR platform underpinning the 5-series, 7-series, X2, X3, X5 and soon-to-arrive X7.
While the new M3 will reportedly have a wheelbase of 20mm longer than the since discontinued F80 M3 and an overall length gain of 60mm, the publication claims it will not follow the M5 in being made with xDrive all-wheel drive as a way of saving weight, but instead have the option of Active Rear Steering like the X5.
Despite Mercedes-AMG’s adopting of hybrid technology in its 53-line of models, the M3 will stick to internal combustion power only and keep its 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six, although equipped with water injection like the M4 GTS and pumping out an alleged 465 horsepower or 347kW, which is 30kW up on the outgoing M3, 16kW more than the M3 Competition Pack and seven kilowatts richer than the CS.
Allegedly as a result of buyer demand, the six-speed manual will prevail as the standard gearbox choice, with an eight-speed Steptronic incorporating Launch Control touted as being the self-shifting option at the expense of the seven-speed M DCT. With the new 3-series expected to make its world’s showing at the Paris Motor Show in October, the M3 will likely make its debut early next year.
IMAGE from motor1.com
