BMW is actively pushing a prototype of its next-generation gasoline-powered M3 around the Nürburgring test track. Codenamed G84, the heavily camouflaged sports sedan retains its signature twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine. You won’t see it in showrooms before 2028. But the new footage confirms a major engineering choice for the beloved performance car.
BMW M CEO Frank van Meel confirmed the division is bypassing a heavy plug-in hybrid setup entirely. They are opting instead to stick to the “perfect combustion principle”. To comply with strict incoming Euro 7 emissions standards in Europe, the familiar S58 engine is getting a fundamental rework. Engineers are introducing a new pre-chamber ignition process.
The powertrain is highly likely to feature a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. This assists the combustion engine without adding excessive bulk. The manual transmission, however, appears to be dead. Reports suggest the new gas model drops the stick shift option completely, launching exclusively as an automatic, all-wheel-drive xDrive vehicle.
How the G84 Avoids the M5 Curb Weight Penalty
By dodging a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the upcoming M3 avoids a serious handling compromise. BMW’s larger M5 sedan recently gained a severe curb weight penalty when it adopted its PHEV system. The M3 keeps things much lighter.
BMW is running a dual-track strategy. The gas-powered G84 M3 is being developed simultaneously alongside a fully electric M3 sibling, codenamed ZA0. That electric variant relies on the upcoming Neue Klasse architecture. Buyers will just have to pick a side when the end of the decade approaches.