You’ve already seen the M3/M4 technical presentation slides in our Official Tech Guide Thread. Now view the presentation as it was meant to be digested – in animated form.

Who doesn’t like fancy 360 degree rotating views and animated technical blow-ups… we definitely do.

Today’s tests at the Nurburgring were stopped by a BMW F80 M3 crash ten minutes before the end of the session. The accident occurred at a section called “Metzgesfeld” where the driver lost control and crashed into the right guide rail.

Fortunately, the test driver is OK and was only fitted with a neck collar. The F80 M3 prototype was transported back to the BMW technical center at the Ring.

Unfortunate that this happened, but it gives us more looks at the advanced M3 and M4 prototypes and a peek at what appears to one-piece sports seats, different than the ones in the prototype M3/M4 we rode in recently (compare).

Could these one-piece seats also possibly have carbon fiber backs as the ones which appeared in this earlier … CONTINUED

We have added and updated more technical specs for the F80 M3 / F82 M4 in our Official Technical Guide.

Please see inside.

We’ve shared with you the M3/M4 official specs and our ride-along/workshop notes, now have an on board look as we ride with Bruno Spengler in the M4 prototype at BMW’s proving grounds near Munich.

Bruno shares his thoughts on the EPS (electric power steering), turbos, transmission and testing on the Nurburgring.

And if you’re wondering whether the in-cabin sounds you hear are artificially enhanced via Active Sound, we asked and were told by one of the BMW engineers that there was absolutely no artificial sound feature. But, other outlets have written that the M3/M4 will use the speakers to amplify the sound, so we have contradictory info. A request for clarification is in at BMW and we should have an answer soon.

BIMMERPOST correspondent Jens Meiners just spent a day at BMW’s testing center near Munich for the BMW M3/M4 workshops and ride-along. Here is our report:

Thanks, BMW, for the earth-hugging i3 and the i8, but what enthusiasts really care about is the next M3 – and its two-door variation, the M4. Production of the current one has ended in July, while the next models won’t go into production before Spring. Why the gap? We hear that BMW has essentially run out of parts to build them.

It means the end of an era: The E90 M3 was fitted with the last naturally aspirated BMW M engine – and it was also the last BMW M to use a dedicated M engine developed from scratch. No more. Despite … CONTINUED

We share with you the first official specs and technical details of the 2014 BMW M3 (F80) and M4 (F82)!

ENGINE

Inline 6 cylinder engine with two mono-scroll turbochargers
Direct Injection
VALVETRONIC
Double-VANOS
closed-decked crankcase
twin-wire arc-spray coating (instead of liners) in cylinder bores reduce engine weight
430 HP (approximately)
369+ LB-FT (500 Nm)
See Dyno Chart
Higher than 7500 RPM redline

TURBOS

Two … CONTINUED

BMW M has held workshops revealing some technical aspects of the M3/M4. Our coverage and more official specs will come later.

For now, you should know that the BMW M3 and M4 will officially feature 425 HP and more than 370 LB-FT torque, in line with what we’ve been reporting.

Keep in mind that the F80 M3 /F82 M4 will weigh less than the E90/E92 M3.

BIMMERPOST member ///Megalomaniac got up close and very personal with an F80 M3 prototype this past weekend. He recounts his spotting with us all:

Today I spotted this F80 M3 on my way back home. Thought I should share it with you!

First thing what came in my mind was: “Yes, I’m the first who can show a picture of the redline!” But as I came closer and looked into the car, the whole speedo was blacked out and nothing was to see! I think it wasn’t a full Black Panel Display, because it looked like there wasn’t any speedo at all, only a Head-Up Display..

So I looked around and noticed that the white colour was only foil! There was a blue colour underneath, which didn’t … CONTINUED

We have added a video of a black F80 M3 sedan advanced prototype out on the highway.