Predictions as to How Much Technical Data Late September

[Powerslide]

Since we do not yet have any confirmed specifications to talk about - I thought we'd do the next best thing and speculate as to how much technical info BMW will release for new M3/M4 in late September, v official debut at NAIAS...

Thoughts?

[Powerslide]

BTW - the more they release, the happier all of us would obviously be - that being said - I'm not holding my breath for much more than basic info (I6 v V6, number of turbos, maybe average weight reduction compared to last generation)...

[solstice]

My guess is that it will be very little. Maybe something that builds a lot of hype without giving away anything substantial, like "we've measured more than 5s faster ring times."

[Chill72]

I hope they release HP numbers. I need 450 at least!

[swamp2]

^ Do note that ~300 lb of weight loss is the same as going from 414->450 hp from a power to weight perspective and that is all you can actually feel and measure, power to weight. I don't think the car will shed quite that much weight compared to the E9X M3 but others do. Also keep in mind the handling benefits that come from 300 lb of lost weight! That is why losing weight is always better than gaining power. Lucky for us we will get some of both.

[Chill72]

Well to me weight loss is a given on the new model so I already accounted for that but IN ADDITION I want 450 HP. I know I'm greedy but it would make this car BAD ASS.

[RMB]

+1

[solstice]

It's FI so if you want a higher hp figure I'm sure Dinan etc. will be able and willing to sell you another 50-100 hp for a dime. I.e hp should not be a concern. With this new engine it's all about throttle response, linearity and sound. How good those are will IMO determine how good of an engine it is not hp or tq. And of course how much and prolonged beating it can take with consistent performance and reliability.

[Brosef]

every previous generation M3 has been a significant leap forward in terms of performance. I think this car will have to lose more than 300 lbs if they're going to stick with about the same HP. My guess is that the weight loss isn't quite that high (maybe only 200-250 lbs), but that power is more in the neighborhood of 440-450.

[mkoesel]

I'd expect roughly what they might typically have revealed with the concept itself. So, the same kinds of things we got here:

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511101

[Someone?]

i doubt it will ever happen, But it would be awesome if it was a V6, i mean the 4.98L s85 engine and the 3.99L s65 are the same engine minus the 2 cylinders, so make a 3L buy doing the same (taking off 2 cylinders off the s65) you could make a 9000RPM turbo engine,lol

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I'd expect roughly what they might typically have revealed with the concept itself. So, the same kinds of things we got here:

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511101

If the outgoing generation is any indication, it seems the March 2007 press release for the M3 at the Geneva concept reveal confirmed a "high revving V8" without much more technical detail than that. Then by early April, 2007, engine specifications (incl. hp/ tq peak at given rpm's) and dimensions of car were released. IIRC - the production version was not revealed until Frankfurt in September 2007.

Assuming BMW uses this same "timeframe" for this new generation M3/M4 with the same corresponding amount of data for each release, we hopefully will be pleasantly surprised! (Although again - obviously BMW is not "bound" by its own precedent - so who knows - we may have to tough it out until January - )