A lieutenant colonel in the Bimmer Post forum army discovered some great news for BMW M3 fans this week. The best part: It will get a manual transmission.
We don't know where the info came from, or its veracity — we've asked BMW to comment — but it all sounds plausible.
First, the new M3 will start production in 2020, which means it probably won't be on sale until later that year.
Second, it will get three levels of power. "Pure" trims will get 444 hp like the current model. "Base" trims will jump up to 475 hp and Competition versions will get a nice, round 500 hp.
All-wheel-drive models will be offered for the first time, along with regular rear-drive versions. Pure trims will be RWD with manual transmissions, and the poster says base and Comp models will probably be xDrive and automatic. Those second two are speculative.
Pure and base models will have 18-inch front wheels and 19-inch rears; the Competition will get 19s and 20s. Standard equipment will include the M differential, adaptive suspension, M sport seats and something called Live Dashboard or Live Cockpit, which is just a digital gauge cluster similar to Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit.
Optional equipment will include carbon-ceramic brakes and Merino leather, among other things.
We expect more news soon, so stay tuned.
H/T: Bimmer Post forum
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