A Preview Of Things To Come: Bmw 328i

Last month I grabbed the keys to BMW’s all new 3-series for a week. Nothing to get overly excited about, it was only the 2-liter turbocharged 328i sedan…or so that is what I thought. It doesn’t happen often, but once in a while you come across a seemingly simple base model that impresses you. It’s nothing to do with the power or any other specific area of the car, but more to do with the whole package. The 328i is the perfect example. It may be oriented to be a good daily driver but it shines as a truly good honest drive. And it’s at this point that you begin to make the unavoidable assumptions. If the base car is so good, the upcoming all-new M3 is going to be a very special car indeed. And that is what was going through my mind during all the time I spent with the 328i, which included a long haul drive down to Central Circuit to cover the Hellaflush Kansai event.

The new M3 (or “M4″ for the coupe version, as rumors are pointing to) will be based on the same F30 chassis as the 328i. Powering it will be a rumored new turbocharged straight six with bucket loads of torque and about 450 HP, the 4L naturally aspirated V8 ditched in the pursuit of more contained fuel consumption. The F30’s chassis felt very modern, extremely stiff and communicative and able to take plenty more power.

The double Vanos and twin-scroll equipped 2-L engine is quite a stark display of how turbocharged technology has improved over the last few years. BMW’s engine downsizing in its M-cars, dropping large capacity aspirated motors in favor of smaller force-induced variants (see new F10 M5), isn’t particularly a bad thing. Sure the NA scream is all but lost, but you are in fact getting much more accessible power and most importantly low-end torque as well as much improved fuel consumption. Plus any turbocharged engine will be far easier to tune, which puts a smile on all tuners out there. The N20 in the 328i supplies decent power, at 241 HP, but it’s the 350 Nm (258 lb/ft) available between 1,250 rpm and 4,800 rpm that made it shine…

…especially when playing with the new Sport/Eco button. I found this a great way to simplify the different drive modes, literally transforming the engine and car’s character with a push of a button. So from instant throttle response and full power, not to mention fast shifts from the eight speed gearbox and sharper steering, you can dull everything for those mundane drives through the city or highway to get the best fuel consumption possible (17 km/L or 40 mpg was the best I managed). Like in the M5 that I drove a few months back the upcoming M3 will no doubt utilize this innovative and effective form of active engine and car management. I know the purists out there will cringe at this sort of technology, I would too if it took away from the actual driving experience, but it doesn’t and that’s exactly what I am getting at.

Add to this a more exciting interior design with an even more intuitively arranged layout and the whole 3-series range has really taken a welcome step in the right direction. There was even a splash of color to boost the usually plain BMW interior as well as matching red stitching for the steering wheel and seats so you can expect the M3 to tap into this even more. And thankfully, if like myself you drive a previous generation 3-series, you will be extremely glad to hear that those silly cup holders that pop out of the dash have been replaced with the more conventional ones so your passengers can stop knocking their kneecaps out of place!

So taking into account the nice innovations we have seen on this 328i, what would you guys like to see the all new M3 and M4 have?

BMW

-Dino Dalle Carbonare

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1

We're losing it, M5's should have V10's and M3's should have V8's. I know it shouldn't matter and you get more power with less fuel, but, it's just not right. 

2

 @bradjh Agreed. They should just turbo the v10s and v8s. That way you get awesome power. 

3

BMW has been disappointing lately... 

4

 @bradjh "We're losing it, M5's should have V8's and M3's should have I6's. I know it shouldn't matter and you get more power with less fuel, but, it's just not right."
 
I fixed it for you!

5
speedhunters_dino

 @bradjh I know what you are saying but think about where the M5 and M3 have come from.  They were born with a naturally aspirated straight six and four-pot respectively.  It's all about evolution and adoption of new technology.  It's the same thing with so many cars, look at the Skyline GT-R, it started off with as NA 2L straight six RWD and evolved into a twin-turbo AWD and then now is a twin turbo V6.  Like it or not it's the way it is.  Like I said  however the driving dynamics are still there...so is it really a bad problem?

6

 @bradjh Honestly drive the s54b32 and you will hate any v8...

7

This new car is a winner, I'm waiting for the touring version in the US, so my e46M has a stable mate.

8
speedhunters_dino

 @PhilMaurer  @bradjh Hard to hate the V8 in the current M3 but yes, the straight six was quite the beast.  But realistically it will be hard to get the proposed 450 HP out of an NA straight six, unless you bore it out to 4L or something, and there goes your fuel consumption, emissions etc.  Manufacturers do have a lot to think about in this day and age when developing large volume production cars.  

9
speedhunters_dino

 @PhilMaurer  @bradjh Why? The E28 had a 3.5L straight six and the E30 a 2.3L 4-pot.  So the originals weren't good?

10

They are performance cars and the companies making them seem to know that more than the fanboys in this instance? They never locked the configuration in, just that the M series will have added performance. If the base model has 350Nm from 1250rpm thats good enough for me, the M should be well sorted. Look at the new gen Falcons. IL6T has more power, more torque, more revs and starts earlier on. If you can have that AN take some weight that would go with a V8 out of the car how is that a problem?

11
speedhunters_dino

 @Pancakes Yes nothing is yet confirmed for the new M3. Various news sites have reported that BMW has tested a variety of configurations even a supercharged V6 and a try-turbo straight six. 

12

I can't wait to see it come out with a turbo straight 6. Will it be twin turbo ? Tri turbo ? Turbo AND supercharged ? I just hope it'll be a straight 6. Just imagine the sound of it ! BMW has always been a great motorist so don't worry to much about it : it will kick some serious ass :)

13

a straight six back in the M3? brings back the awesome memories of the E46 :'). i love it

14

where were the pictures taken at? this place looks amazing... along with the car of course :)

15
speedhunters_dino

The location is a little shrine nestled deep in the center of Tokyo. It's a beautiful place!

16

What I WOULDN'T like to see is the name "M4" for the coupe version of the M3.

17

What I WOULDN'T like to see is the name "M4" for the coupe version of the M3.

18

i didn't like BMW when I was a teenager, but since an 74 years old lady beat me in Puerto Rico in one of those believe me I became one of the biggest fan ever, the engineering in these cars go way beyond extraordinary and the quality and performance it's amazing.

19

i didn't like BMW when I was a teenager, but since an 74 years old lady beat me in Puerto Rico in one of those believe me I became one of the biggest fan ever, the engineering in these cars go way beyond extraordinary and the quality and performance it's amazing.

20

That is one ugly BMW.

21
Th3Bl00dyN1n3r

@SPEEDHUNTERS can't wait for the new M3

22

 @SUCH I agree. Not a fan of BMW's new design direction. The cars mechanically look very impressive, though!

23

I'm excited to drive one of these; they look pretty impressive! Now if they could just make their cars look prettier and less... weird.

24

I want the new M3 and M4 to have rockets and sharks with laser beams on their heads

25

Shinagawa plates. hmmm.....

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