[BMWBoss]

They better not change the M3 name!!

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by BMWBoss

They better not change the M3 name!!

It is even more rediculus to make the 3 series sedan only, yet call the M3 which is most similar to the 4-series coupe.

It would make much more sense to call the M3 coupe the M4. Something has to give! As much as the M3 will be 0 % similar in components as the 3 or 4 series, it will still take on the body styling, so it should be logical which its naming is derived from.

[V1.47fan]

Originally Posted by Diver

Too many numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. I guess they wanted no gaps.

I agree and too many M cars including SUV's. With every series growing in size, I guess the E90 M3 kinda replaced the E39 M5 and the E82 1M replaced the E36 M3.

[crackberry]

This reminds me of the cayman/boxster situation over at porsche. They essentially are the same model as the cayman was derived from the boxster and shares many parts. One is a coupe and the other is a cab, but they do not share the same nomenclature.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

It is going to happen.


The 3er will consist of Sedan , Touring and Gran Turismo (Touring and GT possibly not US bound)

The 4er will consist of Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe.

Given that M are going to make greater use of the Sub-brand - M3 will remain and will be available as Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe.
The scope for the M3 is that it is not just a faster 335i it is a totally different car . And the future M3 will distinguish itself further from the Coupe.

So there will be 3 series sedan, 4 series coupe, and M3 coupe? And this is considered normal? I really don't care the car I have is called M3, but this is messed up.

[g_rant]

Just out of curiosity, but what does everyone here do?

[hoeferland]

PM me a price in 19" or 20" and maybe we can figure something out. I've got a great photo guy and we could get some killer shots.

[hoeferland]

PM me a price for 19" or 20" and maybe we can work something out. I have a great photo guy (Mark McInnes) and we could get some killer shots.

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by erhanh

So there will be 3 series sedan, 4 series coupe, and M3 coupe? And this is considered normal? I really don't care the car I have is called M3, but this is messed up.

Totally agree. Eventually we'll all get the nomenclature/models/number, but the question we'll still ask is "why?". I always thought, if BMW were to completely change the company for whatever reason, the 3-series would be the one thing they wouldn't touch or go near. But now having Scott confirm that the 3-Series is going to be divided into a the new 4-Series boggles my mind...No more 3-Series coupe?!?!

(We all hate fake-badging cars but would it be ok to get a 4-er coupe and just slap a 3-Series badge on it without being frowned upon in the Bimmer community? )

[Uli_HH]

Since there is some time to go before the F3x M debutes on the public ... there is also time to chance the typological descision ... I think in the end we would see an F30 M3 Sedan and F32/33/35 M4 Coupes and Convertible ... don´t forget the M3 starts in the E30 era as sedan with 2 doors and the M3 Coupe-Lable only comes with the E36 ... from it´s roots the M3 doesn´t must be an coupe!

And since 2009 the E90 M3 sedan sells better and better year after year, so that the possibility of an new F30 M3 Sedan also increases ... and also in the 5er/6er series there is no problem to bring an M5 sedan and an 4-door M6 GranCoupe side by side.

Since the descision to name Coupes and Convertibles in the F3x range 4er series, I am sure that in the end we would see an F30 M3 Sedan ... don´t forget also the F11 M5 touring was ruled out for long time .. and now it comes in 2013.

Greets Uli_HH

[Evolution_GT]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

It is going to happen.


The 3er will consist of Sedan , Touring and Gran Turismo (Touring and GT possibly not US bound)

The 4er will consist of Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe.

Given that M are going to make greater use of the Sub-brand - M3 will remain and will be available as Coupe , Cabrio and Gran Coupe.
The scope for the M3 is that it is not just a faster 335i it is a totally different car . And the future M3 will distinguish itself further from the Coupe.

This makes no sense to me. If you're gonna make the 3-series sedan-only, and the 4-series coupe-only... then the M nomenclature should reflect that. Granted you want to keep things traditional and have the M3 remain designated to the coupe, it just makes no sense as the coupe will presumably have very similar styling cues to the 4-series coupe. It should be called the M4 coupe to eliminate any possible future confusion.

Otherwise, I think the whole 4-series idea should be scrapped and keep everything as 3-series... it's what the market is already accustomed to.

[Taipei-TT]

I love the render of the car. If the real things goes in that direction, I will be very very pleased. It does have a little CC in it, as well as a dose of CLS in it in my view, but still, the stance is a masculine and elegant BMW coupe. Sweet!

I'm also in favor of the renaming. The coupe costs significantly more than the sedan ($15000USD in my market) and giving it the new name will allow BMW to up the ante a little more on the luxury features of the coupe. I've never thought of it as a badge whore thing, but for me personally, I think the e90 and e92s are really different cars in that I never even considered an e90 and yet I bought an e92. Obviously BMW thinks I'm not the only consumer with this perception, regardless of what the forum crowds think.

Hopefully the nomenclature will give BMW designers a little more room to make the coupe even more distinct but retain all the technical virtues we've come to expect from BMW in the 3 series.

[Dackelone]

One more crop'd photo...

[Dazzler]

I am generally liking the direction of the new BMW design language except for that damn crease the 6 series has behind the front wheel arch..

From this now it seems like we'll be seeing it in more models



This one...

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by Dazzler

I am generally liking the direction of the new BMW design language except for that damn crease the 6 series has behind the front wheel arch..

From this now it seems like we'll be seeing it in more models



This one...

I actually like this, alot. I hope they keep it in the production car.

I think the 4 series will mimic the 6 series styling, and the 3 series will mimic the 5.

[Sojourn76]

The naming gas never been logical. 1 series includes all body styles, 3 series does the same, yet they divided the 5 into sedan/ wagen and 6 series coupe. Then look at the x5 why not name the x6 the x5 coupe sounds dumb but if we are going to see a 5 sedan and 6 grand coupe. Then logic is out the window. What ever direction they go just make it universal throughout the brand. And while we are at it fix the model names (I own a blah number "i" blah s drive... Really ?!)

Anyway in the end names are bottom of the list, I'll forgive names if the cars are great

[sza392]

that crease looks like the one on the lambo

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by markymarc1979

BMW better careful or they will end up like GM. Too many cars in their line up and not enough people buying them. A 4 series is ridicolous.

You realize that it is not another model, but a new designation for the 3 series coupes and convertibles right?

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The scope for the M3 is that it is not just a faster 335i it is a totally different car .

"totally different car"?
same engine (block/configuration at least)
same chassis, same dash, electronics, headlights, tail lights, roof, trunk, doors etc etc
i hardly call that a "totally different car"

"you can call a pig a duck, but it won't quack"

[Oliver1]

This makes no sense to me. If you're gonna make the 3-series sedan-only, and the 4-series coupe-only... then the M nomenclature should reflect that. Granted you want to keep things traditional and have the M3 remain designated to the coupe, it just makes no sense as the coupe will presumably have very similar styling cues to the 4-series coupe. It should be called the M4 coupe to eliminate any possible future confusion.

How about calling it the 4 Series M Coupe.

[SCOTT26]

"totally different car"?
same engine (block/configuration at least)
same chassis, same dash, electronics, headlights, tail lights, roof, trunk, doors etc etc
i hardly call that a "totally different car"

Seriously?

335i is a great car , M3 is one of the greatest cars I have driven ... You can feel the difference between an M3 and a 335i, Like I said M3 is not just a faster 3er Coupe, it is car that illustrates it's pure engineering genius when you are behind the wheel.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Seriously?

335i is a great car , M3 is one of the greatest cars I have driven ... You can feel the difference between an M3 and a 335i, Like I said M3 is not just a faster 3er Coupe, it is car that illustrates it's pure engineering genius when you are behind the wheel.

I believe what he was trying to say is that M3 (or M cars) used to have special engines and that was adding a lot to the difference between models. Now that BMW will slap a different number/size turbos with different tune, the difference between non-M and M seems less.