The Gas BMW M3 Isn't Dead: Next-Gen Prototype Roars

An electric M3 is coming soon, but that doesn't mean the six-cylinder car is going away.

2027 BMW M350

Photo by: BMW

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Oct 20, at 5:53am ET

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BMW isn't ready to give up on the inline-six just yet. While the electric M3 will arrive in several months, the M division is also developing a gasoline-powered sports sedan for 2028. Meanwhile, a new spy video gives us a good opportunity to hear its combustion engine in action. The prototype is still heavily camouflaged, but there's no mistaking it for an ordinary 3 Series.

Those massively flared wheel arches make it clear we're looking at the full-fat M car, not the just-revealed M350 xDrive. The footage also captures the car firing up, offering an early taste of what could be one of the last M3s with a combustion engine. Come to think of it, I wouldn't be surprised if it is the last of the breed. Under the hood, the prototype likely packs an updated version of BMW's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.

Aficionados know it as the S58, but the engine won't carry over unchanged from the outgoing car. BMW has been talking about a “new type of six-cylinder engine." No, not a V6, but the comment has sparked speculation about an inline-six with some form of electrification baked in. Thankfully, BMW has ruled out a chunky plug-in hybrid setup, suggesting a mild-hybrid system is in the works. Why? We keep coming back to the same reason: stricter emissions regulations.

The Ever-Evolving BMW Inline-Six Engine

BMW recently updated the engine in Europe to comply with Euro 7. It now features something called M Ignite technology, which has also been applied to the M2 and M4. The system uses pre-chamber ignition, a second spark plug per cylinder, and variable-turbine-geometry turbochargers to improve efficiency without sacrificing power. BMW also says the technology gives the six-cylinder a throatier sound at higher revs.

To meet EU regulations, the next M3 could go a step further by adding 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, though BMW hasn't confirmed it. There's a catch, though. Rumors suggest BMW could make all-wheel drive standard on the next gasoline M3, potentially dropping rear-wheel drive and the manual gearbox from the lineup. Nothing is official yet, but such a move would mark a major departure from the M3's traditional formula, set 40 years ago when the original E30 launched with a four-pot engine.

At the very least, a dedicated rear-wheel-drive mode would hopefully remain available, as it is on the current M3 Competition xDrive and even the new M350 xDrive. Still, enthusiasts who prefer three pedals and power going exclusively to the rear wheels might want to keep an eye on the current G80 while it's still available. Don't say we didn't warn you, but the limited-run M3 CS Handschalter could be the stick's swan song.

Photos by: BMW

The Electric And Gas M3 Will Look Almost Identical

As for what's hiding underneath the camouflage, look no further than the recently teased electric M3. The proportions will differ slightly, but the overall styling will be largely the same inside and out. The sedans will likely be followed later this decade by a pair of wagons, one with four electric motors and the other with a six-cylinder gasoline engine.

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For now, the latest spy video is a welcome reminder that BMW isn't abandoning its six-cylinder M cars just yet. The electric M3 promises a very different kind of performance, but the prospect of another snarling, inline-six-powered sedan is enough to keep the combustion-engine faithful interested. After all, not every driving enthusiast is ready to trade an exhaust note for the sound of tires and wind.

As for pricing, BMW has already announced that the two M3 flavors will cost “in the same ballpark.” Although the company didn't go into detail, we believe it meant the M3 Competition xDrive, since the electric version will have all-wheel drive out of the box. For reference, the current all-paw M3 starts at just under $90,000 before options. With prices creeping up with each new generation, the next one could start at a six-figure price. Equivalent wagons would be slightly more expensive, and hopefully, the Touring will get a US visa.