The M division head of product management, Carsten Pries, suggests the company could achieve acceptable performance out of fewer cylinders if the platform sheds weight.
“We do not start our design process with a power output in mind,” the executive told Motoring. “We have a set of characteristics that a new model must meet. For sure, you could see a future [M3] powered by a four-cylinder engine.”
Although the idea may seem repugnant to some purists, the original E30 M3 was powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It was also much lighter than following generations, weighing in below 3,000 pounds.
Reports surrounding the M2 consistently point to a six-cylinder mill under the hood, despite the lighter 2-Series platform being a logical starting place for a four-cylinder mill rather than the larger and heftier 3-Series. Both model families are just entering new generations, however, leaving BMW plenty of time to explore development possibilities.
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