BMW E90 M3 TS artists rendering

The definition for the mid-size luxury sports coupe has been in the past decade the BMW M3. Therefore, this is the car the new Lexus IS 500 coupe will have to beat. The M-version of the BMW’s E90 3-Series is scheduled for launch next year. The new M3 will be produced as coupe first, but a convertible and a sedan will be also available one year after production start. The first intention was to call the new car M4, as the new coupes were about to get even names (as the 6-Series is). However, that decision was finally dropped, and we could see that the new mid-size coupes are also called BMW 3-Series (BMW 325i and BMW 330i respectively). On this basis, both the Motorsport coupe and sedan will be called M3. Rumors are that the new coupe-cabriolet (with folding hardtop) BMW is developing will get to be called 4-Series. If that will happen, clearly an M model based on the coupe-cabriolet will be named M4. A concept for the regular 4 Series is slated for Frankfurt in September.

Whatever the body or the name all of the mid-sized Ms will be powered by the same V8 power plant (for the first time on a BMW 3-Series), deriving from M5/M6’s and expected to deliver around 420 bhp. New engine building technology and lightweight materials are suppose to make the engine amazingly weigh the same as the outgoing 195 cui in-line 6 cylinder from the current E46 M3 but with considerably more power.

The M3 coupe will feature a BMW 6 Series like glasshouse with the possibility of a new distinct interior. The front will sport a new aggressive yet subtle bumper while the rear will display quad exhausts like the new M5.