BMW M hasn't been able to decide whether it wants to jump on the all-wheel-drive bandwagon or not (with the exceptions of the X5 M and the X6 M, which are based on AWD architecture). That might be changing though, since M's president Friedrich Nitschke recently realized that 70 to 80 percent of Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGs are ordered with all-wheel drive. Earlier this year, Nitschke said that there were no new AWD M models planned, so this comes as somewhat of a surprise.

"On our cars we are thinking of all-wheel drive, but it won't come before we get the successor of the M5 and M6," Nitschke said in a Motoring report. "That's the timing and it's not practical to react in the current life cycles."

"On our cars we are thinking of all-wheel drive." – Friedrich Nitschke, BMW
Nitschke says that obtaining a faster 0-60 miles-per-hour time isn't why BMW M is considering AWD option for the M5 and M6. But one has to wonder if that's part of the division's reasoning when the Audi RS6 Avant and RS7, the Porsche Panamera Turbo and the top Mercedes E63 AMG all perform the sprint in under 4.0 seconds with AWD, when the fastest M5 can only do it in 4.2 seconds.

The M division traditionally has been shaped by rear-wheel drive sports cars and sedans with powerful, naturally aspirated engines of bespoke designs that didn't make their way into regular production BMWs. In recent years, however, M has been straying from its roots, replacing the M5's Formula One-derived V10 with a more pedestrian (but more powerful) twin-turbo V8, coming out with the aforementioned AWD M sports utility vehicle and crossover and equipping the upcoming M3 sedan and M4 coupe with a twin-turbocharged straight six to replace the current naturally aspirated V8.

Before the current generation M5 was released in late 2011, BMW had reportedly been toying with plans to make an AWD version, but this latest report confirms that BMW will wait until the next generation comes out.

For the M purists out there, Nitschke reportedly assures you that the M3 and M4 will "never" come with AWD, because, he says, "To accelerate out of corners with this rear-end architecture concept is so fantastic that it [all-wheel drive] is not needed." Instead of taking his word on that, we'll just wait another four to six months and see if the story has changed.

The plan — which has not been announced or confirmed by BMW yet — calls for the new M3 to have one or two electric motors up front helping to boost the power output of the current 3.0-liter inline six engine lineup by a reported 73 pound feet of torque, with the gasoline fueled power all going to the rear wheels.

Now there is also rumor that confirmed by no one that the next m3/4 will be a plug in hybrid AWD....

You can decide for yourself which one is more realistic based on their targeted groups.

Hope it stays a rumor, latest roundels have been overweight porkers and they don't need to get even more porky.

I'd be satisfied with a M3, with conventional AWD and a 6MT, ideal size to fit my tight garage space at work.

The BMW 8 Series is set to return with an all new model to rival the Mercedes S-Class Coupe as a large, luxurious grand tourer.

Trademark applications with the global intellectual property regulators reveal that BMW has already started the basic prep work. In late March it applied to strengthen its control of a string of 8 Series-related names, including 825, 830, 835, 850, 845, 860 and M850.

A BMW insider has confirmed to Auto Express that the move was not merely a case of the company ring-fencing the badges for possible future use, and that it reflects an imminent rejig of BMW’s GT line-up.

BMW’s decision to bring back the 8 Series is due to a change of heart on what the 6 Series needs to be. The Bavarian manufacturer has not considered a rival to the Porsche 911 sports car before, preferring its 6 Series to be a larger, heavier GT. But the arrival of the Mercedes-AMG GT in the same market as the Porsche 911 has signalled new conflict between the big German premium brands, and now BMW wants the 6 Series to be its contender, as a more agile two-seater sports car. It’s that move which will make room for the new 8 Series.

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BMW has also applied to register M8, signalling the potential arrival of a production car that was originally considered back in the early nineties. BMW created prototypes with a V12 engine (the motor that would ultimately end up in the McLaren F1) in the original 8 Series, but canned the project due to a perceived lack of customer demand.

The new M8 would give BMW a rival for the likes of the Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe. M division would probably choose to use the twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine, producing around 450bhp, allowing the 7 Series’ V12 engine to be used in high-designation ‘regular’ 8 Series models like the 850 and M860.

BMW is preparing to launch a racy 365bhp M car as part of a new 2 Series GranCoupé line-up slated to hit UK showrooms in 2019.

Sister model to the recently introduced M2 Coupé, the M2 GranCoupé has been conceived to take the challenge to the upcoming Audi RS3 saloon and Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 in what promises to be an intriguing battle for junior performance car supremacy among Germany’s three main premium brands.

Although the BMW’s two main adversaries use transversely mounted engines and four-wheel drive, the M2 GranCoupé will feature a longitudinally mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. BMW’s intention is that this format will help to provide its new M car with more engaging driving traits than its Audi and Mercedes-AMG rivals — a move that has already made the M2 Coupé a big hit among enthusiast drivers.

With the next-generation 3 Series saloon set to grow in size, BMW believes there is sufficient scope within its future line-up to accommodate an additional model riding on its widely used rear-wheeldrive platform, hence the introduction of the 2 Series GranCoupé.

Secrecy surrounds the bodystyle of the new BMW, which is due to be produced alongside the 2 Series Coupé and Cabriolet at the German car maker’s plant in Leipzig. Until recently, senior BMW officials were undecided whether to follow the direction already taken with the 4 Series and 6 Series GranCoupés (a traditional four-door design) or to favour a more radical five-door liftback proposal for the 2 Series GranCoupé.

Insiders close to BMW research and development boss Klaus Fröhlich admit the four-door option would be the best choice for structural rigidity. However, they confirm certain officials are holding out for a liftback format, suggesting it would provide the new BMW with greater practicality than its rivals.

The need to accommodate two conventional front-hinged rear doors and sufficient rear seat leg room is said to be behind the decision to give the new car a wheelbase that is halfway between the 2690mm span of the 2 Series Coupé and the 2810mm of the existing 3 Series saloon.

The 2 Series GranCoupé will sport a new interior layout that is also set to be adopted by the successors to today’s 2 Series Coupé and Cabriolet, which are due in 2020.

The decision to push ahead with the 2 Series GranCoupé follows a decision by BMW chairman Harald Krüger not to offer a front-wheel-drive production version of the Concept Compact Sedan outside of China, at least in the short term. That car, which was revealed at last year’s Guangzhou show, will be built in China in a joint venture with BMW’s partner Brilliance.

The turbocharged three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines for the 2 Series GranCoupé will mirror those of the existing 2 Series Coupé and Cabriolet.

On the petrol side, expect a 134bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit in the 218i GranCoupé, together with 181bhp and 242bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinders in mid-range 220i and 225i GranCoupé models and a 326bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder in the 235i GranCoupé. Among the diesels will be 148bhp, 187bhp and 221bhp 2.0-litre fourcylinders in 218d, 220d and 225d GranCoupé models.

As with the 2 Series GranCoupé’s two-door sibling, buyers will have a choice of a standard six-speed manual or optional eight-speed torqueconverter automatic gearbox, as well as standard rear-wheel drive or optional xDrive fourwheel drive. However, fourwheel drive will be offered in combination with only a limited range of engines. The highlight of the new lineup, though, will be the M2 GranCoupé.

Set for launch in 2019, the new M car will use the same 365bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine as its highly lauded two-door sibling. It will be offered in combination with either a standard six-speed manual or seven-speed dualclutch automatic gearbox.

Although it is still early days, the S55 B30- designated engine is expected to provide the M2 GranCoupé with similar performance to the M2 Coupé, which has an official 0-62mph time of 4.5sec in manual form and a limited 155mph top speed.

A 2 Series GranCoupé plug-in hybrid model is also mooted. It is expected to use BMW’s turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor mounted within the forward section of a standard eightspeed automatic gearbox.

In combination with a lithium ion battery pack positioned within the floor of the boot, this is intended to provide the new 225e GranCoupé with an electric range of up to 31 miles.