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BMW M3: next-gen performance sedan spied

The fifth-generation BMW M3 has been caught testing in Germany wearing only light camouflage.


With most of its squiggle war paint now removed, the all-new – and now exclusively four-door – BMW M3 can be seen in almost all its glory.

At the front, narrow headlights, a new double-bar kidney grille, deep air intakes and a power dome-equipped bonnet are all shared with the recently spied two-door M3 replacement, the BMW M4.

Despite the M3's bonnet bulge, front fender vents, side skirts, rear bumper and roof – likely a carbonfibre item – remaining camouflaged, the high-performance sedan's large wheels and brakes, wide front and rear guards and classic 'M' quad exhaust are clearly visible. From the rear, we can also see new LED tail-lights.

The M3's larger glasshouse, more upright rear window and thicker C-pillar also blend smoothly into a boot lid that differs from that seen on the back end of the M4 as does a smaller integrated boot-lip spoiler.

Drawing the current M3’s use of a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 to a close, the new car will be powered by a twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing about 335kW – 26kW up on the V8.

Heard in a video teaser earlier this month, the new unit will be used to motivate not only the M3, but also the M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible.

Given BMW M division head of sales operations management Jorg Bartels confirmed exclusively to CarAdvice in June that the upcoming M3 will be lighter than the existing 1605kg sedan, expectation is for a 0-100km/h sprint under 4.9 seconds.

Bartels also confirmed the M3 will be offered with both manual and dual-clutch automatic transmissions saying, “The M3 is the most pure M automobile we have. That won’t change.”

The new BMW M3 is tipped to join the M4 at a twin premiere at the 2014 Detroit auto show in January before reaching local showrooms later that year with the M4 Coupe and Convertible to follow.

Click on the Photos tab for more images.

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