Replacing the 414hp unforced induction V8 engine of the current model, the heavy-breathing straight-six is pegged to deliver somewhere around 450-ponies.
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Well, that's not the case as the ever-expanding Bavarian carmaker is plotting one more body style for its most popular model range, the 4-Series Gran Coupe.
Think of it as a smaller, 3-Series based iteration of the larger and more expensive 6-Series Gran Coupe that is a hybrid between the 6-Series Coupe and the 5-Series Sedan.
We won't blame you if you confuse the appearance of the prototypes of the 3-Series GT with the 4-Series Gran Coupe, but if you take a closer look and compare the test cars we have spied in the past, you will see that the Gran Coupe has a lower and more slanted roofline, along with a longer trunk.
The prototype has dropped all of its heavy camouflage affording us a much clearer view of the car that will soon become the third addition to the sixth generation of the 3-Series after the F30 sedan and Touring.
This is the first new body style to be added to BMW's highly successful 3-Series range since the "Compact" of the 1990s, which was a three-door hatchback.
The 3 GT is a life-style orientated model sporting a five-door liftback body and a longer wheelbase than the sedan for improved passenger space.
The shape of the car is far less awkward and more elegant than the larger and taller 5-Series GT, though it doesn't appear to be as sporty looking as its chief rival, the Audi A5 Sportback.
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While technically this is the fifth generation of the M3 series, BMW has produced only two sedan versions of its high-performance model based on the 1990-1999 E36 and the 2005-2011 E90 3-Series respectively.
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But since that's a long time to wait, the crew from Bimmerpost secured a spy video of one of the newest prototype models of the M3 performance sedan while undergoing hot weather testing in Spain.
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As BMW intensifies testing across Europe, our spies are getting closer to the prototypes and this time, they were able to take a couple of shots of the interior.
While the exterior styling of the production model is modeled after the second concept version of the i8 with changes to certain details like the door handles, headlamps and bumpers (the taillights are not real on this model), the interior is completely different.
Unless the German brand has fitted the test car with a fake interior, the styling of the dashboard is in line with other BMW products replacing the i8 Concept's futuristic looking digital instrument panel with a conventional four-gauge layout and obtaining a large center console tilted towards the driver.
The prototype pictured here with the "Hybrid Test Vehicle" decal on the tailgate is believed to be the so called "REX" version equipped with a normally-aspirated 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that acts as a range extender charging the battery to generate extra miles.
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So what's left to complete the series? Well, depends on how you define the 1-Series range.
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As you can see for yourself, this particular test car suggests that the styling changes are to be restricted to the headlamp and tail lamp graphics, and the front-fender ornaments and side markers.
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We'll start with the next iteration of the M3 Coupe that may be christened M4, the first spy pictures of which we showed you earlier this week.
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