There is little doubt that the next-generationBMW M3 will be stepping down from a V8 to s six-cylinder engine, and a recent image leak may have just given us a sneak peak and the next-gen motor.
An eagle eyed member of the 1Addicts forum managed to snag a screen shot that appears to reveal the next-generation M3 engine. Listed under the N54B3OTO engine code for the U.S. market, the engine is claimed to generate 451 horsepower.
BMW fanatics will notice that the N54B3OTO engine code is shared with the upcoming M 1-Series. However, the M version of the 1-Series is slated to come packing 340 horsepower, indicating that a few software tweaks could easily add another 100 horsepower.
It also remains possible, although unlikely, that the 451 horsepower engine is earmarked for a special edition of the 1-Series. While the idea of a 451 horsepower 1-Series sounds great, it would inevitably outperform the current M3, which would be a major no-no for the German automaker.
