The new V8 Power Unit for the BMW M3
This applies not only – but particularly – to the power unit: After
15 years
and two model generations, the trendsetting
six-cylinder has now found its successor. The new BMW M3 is entering
the market with an eight-cylinder power unit – more cylinders, larger
capacity, more power, higher engine speed. And it is fair to say from
the start that this will also mean an even more thrilling experience
on the road.
The benchmark the new power unit was required to exceed could hardly have been greater: BMW’s 3.2-litre straight-six has gained fame and admiration the world over, receiving a long list of awards and prizes. Acknowledged several times as the “Engine of the Year” and developing a supreme 252 kW in its last version, this power unit made the BMW M3 not only the ultimate performer in the segment of high-performance sports cars, but also a genuine best seller.
The fact still remains, however, that everything has its time. And
now the
time has come for the six-cylinder to bow out and leave
the stage. The time has come for the advent of the new V8 in the new
BMW M3.
The specifications of this new high-performance power unit alone clearly confirm the enormous progress this engine has to offer. Engine displacement is 3,999 cc, maximum output is 309 kW. Peak torque of 400 Newton-metres is just as impressive as the top engine speed of 8,300 rpm. So clearly, the new BMW M3 is striking out for the top right from the start through its thrilling performance.
Ideal dimensions for performance at its best.
Displacing 500 cc per cylinder, the new V8 power unit meets the ideal concept of the most demanding engine designers right from the start through its engine dimensions alone. And the other design criteria – all the way from the engine’s dimensions and filling capacities through the number of components to the weight of the engine – likewise represent the very best achievable today.