- we've spied the upcoming 2021 bmw m3 with an exposed grille, and it's similar to the massive kidney grille found on the latest 4-series.
- the new m3 will be powered by a 473-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six.
- it will make its debut alongside the m4 coupe, and they should arrive in the u.s. by the end of the year or in early 2021.
we were hoping it wouldn't happen. the high-performance bmw m3 and m4 models are set to make their debut later this year, and we hoped that only the m4 two-door coupe would have the controversial massive kidney grille. after all, the standard 2021 3-series sedan has a normally proportional grille. that's not the case, unfortunately, because we've seen an m3 prototype testing with an exposed grille—and it's ill-fitting.
the new m3 and m4 might be the last of their kind before bmw's m division gets electrified, so maybe the big mouth isn't that big a deal after all. both cars are powered by bmw's s58 twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, first introduced in the lightning-quick x3 m and x4 m. it spins up 473 horsepower in standard form and 503 hp in competition guise. rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission will be standard with all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic will be available. we drove a prototype of the new m3 and said, "we can say with some confidence that bmw has made a very good thing even better."
other than the massive kidney grille, the m3 is distinguished by a much wider body than the standard massive-grille-less 3-series, and it has larger fenders with bigger wheels and wider tires. up front it has added air intakes, and in back is a more aggressive splitter with quad exhaust tips to amplify the sound of the turbo six.
the 2021 bmw m3 and m4 are set to debut later this year, so expect to see them arrive in the united states late this year or early next. pricing is expected to start at around $68,000 for the standard m3.