F80 BMW M3 To Be Killed Off Early Thanks To New Emissions Test
It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the current ‘F80’ BMW M3 will bow out much earlier than expected. This August, to be specific, and it’s a result of the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, or ‘WLTP’.
It’s a much more stringent test than the hilariously inaccurate ‘New European Driving Cycle’(NEDC) that’s been used by the industry for years, and while still lab-based, WLTP is supposed to more accurately reflect real driving conditions. NEDC on the other hand centres around an incredibly gentle driving routine you’d never be able to replicate IRL - that’s why downsized turbo engines tend to do so disproportionately well, because they’re generally off-boost for the whole damn thing.
It should come as no surprise then that the twin-turbo M3 - which manages a respectable 194g/km of CO2 and 34mpg combined according to official figures - doesn’t get on so well with WLTP. This, according to Autocar, has left BMW with no other choice but to take it off sale this year.
They could fit it with a petrol particulate filter, but it wouldn’t be possible to have the car re-homologated before the reveal of the all-new 3-series in October. With that in mind, BMW decided the best course of action was to merely kill it off ahead of schedule.
The M4 has the exact same ‘S55’ inline-six as the M3, but thanks to the younger 4-series range being on sale well into 2019, it’s escaped a similar fate to its four-doored brother. A BMW spokesperson told Autocar that the M4 will go off sale “for a couple of months” during the re-homologation period, after which it’ll be back in showrooms with its snazzy new filter.
It’s good to know that it is still possible for powerful performance cars to comply with the tougher regulations, but you’d best prepare yourselves now - we’re almost certain there’ll be more WLTP ‘casualties’ in the coming months.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
let the new M3 have an M88, as seen in the M1
To be honest, very few people even bought the M3 as most opted for the M4. If anything, I hope this teachers manufacturers (AND governments) that downsizing performance cars is a bad idea. Instead of taking a 2-3 litre engine and boosting it to the moon, it would be more economical to take a 3-4 litre engine and mildly turbocharge it. Yes, it may not be quite as powerful, but the only reason we’re seeing stupid amounts of boost is because of this crazy power war we’re in the middle of. Make the car a bit smaller (in my opinon the current 3 should really be the 5) and 300hp becomes plenty.
I will be get me driving license in 2022 FML
RIP All good cars
RIP, it’s not the best time to be a petrolhead in the modern times, especially with the news of all the regulations and restrictions to come…but hey, I’m sure you’ll still be able to find a few cheap petrol cars to practice on and own!
F*cking leftist enviro-fascist tree-hugging liberal politically correct polar-bear-saving c•nts. It pisses me off to see this constant anti-car policy which consists mostly of bureaucratic, idiotic reforms and laws which only cause inconvenience, anger and taxes. There are so many things that cause so much more harm to the environment than cars and yet no one seems motivated to tackle those issues. The political scene only seems interested in seeming eco-friendly by introducing bulls#it laws which rarely improve emissions or safety but always give governments new reasons to tax you extra or give more tickets. This way, the hypocrites get re-elected, they fill their pockets with sweet, tasty taxpayer cash and f^ck all is done for road safety or the environmental.
Exactly
Cheers to that
…I approve!
Damn.
Fuuck regulations
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‘See you again’ plays in the background
I’m curious, woldn’t running an NA motor cure most of these issues, if M put some care into it we could have an NA i6 back in the M3. Turbos are just kinda terrible in this aspect
wouldn’t
The world is dying.