The next (2012, 2013) BMW M3, M5 and M6: Engine Specs

I have reason to believe that the next BMW M3, M5 and M6 will be turbocharged. And while some BMW purists now might be lamenting the slow death of the naturally-aspirated BMW, realize that turbocharging is not only the wave of the future, but with turbochargers, you get more power out of less weight, thus leading to better handling characteristics. Now that is true BMW.

The X5M and X6M have been announced, and both of them have a juicy twin-turbo V8. The hopped up version of the X6 XDrive48i's engine throws down 555 horsepower and 501 lb-feet of torque. Both of those numbers are FAR ahead of the 500 horsepower and (seemingly paltry in comparison) 383 lb-feet of torque from the current M5's naturally-aspirated V10.

Which is why I have reason to believe that this exact same engine, is destined for the next BMW M5 and M6. It's far less expensive to pump up and turbocharge their oft-used 4.4-liter V8 than to put together a special V10 specifically for the M5 and M6. Turbochargers allow for both high power, MUCH higher torque, and better MPG than the alternative. Not to mention, take a look at the 0-60 times - the BMW M5 throws it down in a claimed 4.7 seconds. The X5M and X6M, porkers both, throw it down in 4.5 seconds, despite being almost 1,000 pounds heavier each than the M5 and M6.

Not to mention, the Cadillac CTS-V threw it down on the M5 for this generation, showing BMW up in a BIG BIG way, and BMW does not want to let the Corvette ZR1-engined monster-Lac have the last laugh.

As for the next BMW M3? Compare the current M3's 420 horsepower to the M5's 500. Or the old M3's 340 horsepower to the previous M5's 400. Drop two cylinders, put it together, and it's reasonable to estimate that BMW will hike up the twin-turboed 3.0 I-6 from 300 horsepower to at least 430 (possibly over 450) horsepower and around 400 torque, thus putting BMW in a position to throw down against the Nissan GT-R performance-wise.

Are you against the idea of turbo M's? If so, then realize what BMW already has: Higher performance, better handling, better weight distribution, better MPG. And without having to spend millions on M-specific engine designs, BMW is free to throw its money towards other aspects of the M cars (suspension, brakes, etc), or to other BMW models.

Well, not that you care where BMW throws its money, but I personally enjoy keeping up with what they're doing next. You just want a kickass new M3, M5 and M6. And with turbos, that's exactly what you will get.

So to recap the estimated engine specs:

BMW M5 (and M6): 555 horsepower, 501 foot-lbs torque

BMW M3: 430-450 horsepower, 400-420 foot-lbs torque

Drool at the prospects and enjoy.