Few upcoming cars have caused as much excitement as the new BMW M3 sedan and M4 coupe. Thankfully, the wait is almost over.
BMW released a teaser video for the two cars, and will reportedly unveil them online in the coming weeks. The M3 and M4 will publicly debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.
The teaser keeps things pretty mysterious, but we already have a pretty good idea of what the cars will look like based on the M4 concept BMW showed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance earlier this year.
The new M3 will again be a hot rod version of the 3 Series sedan but, in keeping with BMW’s new nomenclature, the two-door model gets a numeric promotion. Just as the 4 Series is really a 3 Series coupe (or convertible), the former M3 coupe will be called M4 from now on.
Both cars will feature more aggressive versions of the base models’ bodywork, with new front and rear fascias, hoods, and wheels. It’s also likely that there will be a few carbon fiber parts thrown into the mix.
Under the restyled skin, expect a direct-injected, twin-turbocharged inline-six. It may appear to be a downgrade from the current car’s V8, but BMW says the new engine will be more powerful, and more efficient, than before. The new cars are also expected to be lighter than their predecessors, so they can make the most of that extra power.
As with other recent cars from BMW M, the new M3 and M4 will be equipped with a suite of electronic driver aids and hardware, including the Active M Differential, Adaptive M Suspension, and different modes for the electronic power steering. The M DCT automated-manual transmission will also be on the menu, although a traditional six-speed manual may be offered alongside it.
Check back here for more on the BMW M3 and M4 in the coming weeks.
