We haven’t spotted the F82 M4 Coupe at the Nurburgring since July, when the F82 was spied for the very first time in public testing. Well, it’s now back at the Ring during an onslaught of BMW prototype testing in the past week, including the F80 M3, F82 M4, F36 4 Series Gran Coupe, F15 X5 M, 3 Series GT, and the M6 Gran Coupe.

Below are the most recent photos and a video of the F82 M4 in testing at the Nurburgring, as well as a recap of what’s known and speculated about the next gen M3/M4 thus far.

SUMMARY

Lighter than current M3
targeting E46 M3 weight (source)
More powerful than … CONTINUED

Back in May we first confirmed that the F80 M3 and F82 M4 would be powered by an inline 6 cylinder turbo engine and indeed we’ve just received these first photos of the next gen M3/M4 engine, with visual proof of the inline cylinder setup.

The F80 M3 / F82 M4 will have some good cooling of the the heated air pumping from its turbos, via components such as the air-to-water/liquid intercooler unit (to the right of the engine cover) feeding the cylinders with cooled air. If this setup is anything like in the M5/M6 S63Tu engine, the air is cooled by this unit right before it reaches the cylinders. There appears to be twin intake boxes and the oil cooler bracket looks to be the same … CONTINUED

The 2014 F80 M3 continues prototype testing on the road and track on and around the Nurburgring. We’ve compiled this 3 minute video featuring plenty of new sights and sounds of the F80 M3 in various settings performing different maneuvers and driving action.

With its planted ride and suspension, together with plenty of power from its turbo inline 6 cylinder, the new M3 flies around the track with little body roll and suspension travel.

To reiterate our oft repeated details on the upcoming F80 M3 / F82 M4:

The F80 M3 / F82 M4 will be powered by an inline 6 cylinder engine with multiple turbochargers, pushing approximately 450 horsepower. The engine has been rumored to be an extensively reworked and reinforced N55 6-cylinder engine with a strengthened aluminium … CONTINUED

Watch and listen as the 2014 BMW M3 (F80) slings around the famous Karussell at the Nurburgring track, sounding thunderous as it accelerates out of the hairpin turn.

Here is a summary of the most up to date facts regarding the F80 M3 / F82 M4:

Lighter than current M3
Faster than current M3
More powerful than current M3
More efficient than current M3
Powered by an inline 6 cylinder turbo engine
Offered with optional or standard manual transmission
Electric Power Steering (completely reworked for precision for M3/M4)
Tires (from prototype) - Michelin Pilot Super Sport: … CONTINUED

A 2014 M3 test prototype resumed testing at the Nurburgring yesterday and the strip tease continued by way of a possible (or intended) camouflage malfunction. Here’s what we see.

Air Curtains

By coincidence (?), the passenger side lower front bumper camouflage was flapped open during the test runs, revealing and confirming the air curtain vents on the F80. Whether the camouflage was peeled back to feed air to the air curtains for testing purposes, resulted from a camouflage malfunction, or was purposely peeled back to tease us, matters not. What’s important is that we get the first clear look at the air curtain vent, which appears very large judging by the amount of space between the air curtain vent outline and the outer edge of the still camouflaged … CONTINUED

The 2014 F80 M3 prototype continues hot climate testing in Spain and we continue getting more live looks and listen at the next generation M3 sedan.

Our new video provides a good listen at the M3 prototype accelerating from a stop, though it’s obviously not a full out acceleration run. For full throttle acceleration at speed, see the previously posted M3 and M4 prototype videos from Nurburgring testing, copied below. We also hear the car’s startup for the first time. One thing’s for sure - there will be no lack of baritone and bass sounds coming from the F80’s exhaust. Its hearty burble is heard throughout the clip.

The F80’s ride and suspension looks planted, with little body roll and suspension travel (check out how stiff the suspension … CONTINUED

The 2014 M3 (F80) prototype which was spotted in Los Angeles this past weekend has made its way into the California Mojave Desert’s Death Valley for high temperature testing.

With high temperature testing always comes the removal of some front end camouflage, necessary to increase the prototypes’ air intake and cooling; which makes us the indirect beneficiaries of ever better looks at an exposed front end.

Yesterday’s F80 M3 spy pics (some copied below) gave us the best idea yet of the lines and shape of the front end styling, and today’s sighting adds to that by showing us some even more details - particular the lines of the front bumper air vents which could not be seen through the cloth covered front apron from yesterday’s photos.

What it … CONTINUED

The F80 M3 sedan is coming together visually bit by bit with each new sighting of the development mules, and it’s looking sportier by the spotting.

We recently brought you the first look at the F80 M3 hood bulge, and now we share with you the first glimpse of the F80 M3’s front end styling, which will feature an aggressive design much like the 2013 M6’s very attractive front fascia, with a pinch of 1M styling thrown in.

Although still covered in a cloth covering, the shapes and lines of the M3 front bumper are now easily seen and there’s no mistaking its M6 like design (see the comparison photo below). The middle bumper intake is a trapezoid shape like on the M5/M6, although more aggressively angled. This … CONTINUED

The 2014 BMW F80 M3 and M6 Gran Coupe have landed stateside, with the first spotting coming in Los Angeles!