Core summary
A current-generation performance sedan and touring designed for performance driving with daily usability.
The BMW M3 is the high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series developed by BMW M GmbH. The current G80/G81 generation began production in 2020 and is offered as a saloon or, for the first time in M3 history, a Touring estate. Its turbocharged S58 straight-six is stated at 473 hp in the standard car, while the M3 Competition is listed at 503 hp. Rear-wheel drive remains available, and xDrive all-wheel drive is an option. The standard M3 is the only current version in the extract explicitly associated with a manual gearbox; the Competition uses an eight-speed M Steptronic Sport automatic. The range also includes the all-wheel-drive, automatic-only M3 CS. A 2022 update introduced BMW's dual curved display and iDrive 8 to the saloon, while the Touring launched with that display.
The BMW M3 is a performance sedan and touring developed around front-engine architecture. Its current-generation profile combines 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six with rear-wheel drive or m xdrive. The BMW M3 is best understood as a vehicle for performance driving with daily usability, with specifications and equipment organized by current generation and market.
History & generations
The M3 began with the E30 generation in 1986 as a coupé-focused homologation special, with limited convertibles. The E36, produced from 1992, broadened the range to coupé, convertible and saloon body styles and introduced the six-cylinder M3. The E46 followed from 2000 with coupé and convertible versions. For 2007–2013, the E90/E92/E93 generation covered saloon, coupé and convertible forms and introduced the model's only standard-production V8. The F80 generation, produced from 2014 to 2018, was saloon-only because the coupé and convertible had moved into the M4 range; it also introduced turbocharging. The G80/G81 arrived in 2020, retained the saloon and added the M3 Touring estate for the first time. It also introduced optional xDrive, ending the model's rear-drive-only tradition.
E30 M3
The original M3 was a coupé-led homologation special, with limited convertibles.
E36 M3
The second generation added six-cylinder power, then coupé, convertible and saloon forms.
E46 M3
The E46 used a naturally aspirated straight-six and was sold as a coupé or convertible.
E90/E92/E93 M3
The fourth generation introduced the only standard-production M3 V8, across three body styles.
F80 M3
The F80 returned to a saloon-only format and introduced turbocharging to the M3.
G80/G81 M3
The current generation offers saloon and Touring bodies, rear drive, optional xDrive and Competition variants.
Body, platform & design
The current M3 uses the G80 saloon and G81 Touring estate as its two documented body formats. BMW gave the G80 a twin-kidney grille derived from the 4 Series, a design choice described in the reference as controversial among critics. The Touring extends the current M3 concept into an estate body rather than creating a separate performance model. The available visual and mechanical distinctions between standard, Competition and CS versions include different wheel, mirror and exterior-detail treatments. Competition specification is identified by forged M light-alloy wheels, black chrome exhaust tips and high-gloss black mirrors.
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Engine & drivetrain
The G80/G81 generation uses BMW's S58 turbocharged straight-six engine. The standard M3 is listed at 473 hp. The M3 Competition increases output by 30 hp to 503 hp and raises torque to 650 N⋅m; it is paired exclusively with an eight-speed M Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. The standard M3 is described as having a manual gearbox available only with rear-wheel drive, making it the sole transmission choice for that standard configuration. The current M3 CS, introduced in 2023, raises output to 550 hp and is offered only with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic.
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Trim differences
The current documented range begins with the standard M3 and includes the M3 Competition and M3 CS. The standard car is listed with 473 hp and can be specified with rear-wheel drive or optional xDrive. Its manual gearbox is restricted to rear-wheel-drive cars. The M3 Competition raises output to 503 hp, adds 100 N⋅m over the standard model and uses the eight-speed M Steptronic Sport automatic exclusively. Its stated equipment includes a separate transmission oil cooler, black chrome exhaust tips, forged M light-alloy wheels, automatic brake hold and high-gloss black mirrors. The 2023 M3 CS is the most powerful documented road version at 550 hp, with a 15-kilogram reduction versus the M3 Competition xDrive. It is automatic and all-wheel drive only. The extract does not list every market's trim structure.
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Interior & seating
The current-generation interior detail supplied here is limited but clear on the display update. For the 2023 model year, the M3 saloon received BMW's dual curved display with iDrive 8, replacing the earlier separate digital cockpit and infotainment arrangement using iDrive 7. The M3 Touring launched directly with the newer display. The reference also identifies some Competition equipment, including automatic brake hold, but does not describe the standard seats, upholstery, dashboard materials, cargo volume or seating capacity. Accordingly, the current interior can be identified by its display architecture, but not fully profiled in terms of cabin appointments or practicality.
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Efficiency & range
The current M3 pairs a turbocharged straight-six with either rear-wheel drive or optional xDrive all-wheel drive. The standard model's manual transmission is available only with rear-wheel drive, while the Competition and CS versions use automatic transmissions. The power-focused range is documented primarily through output, torque, transmission and drivetrain distinctions rather than consumption-related measures. The engine and drivetrain therefore define the available mechanical choices, while no comparative economy ranking is assigned here.
Safety & equipment
It does identify automatic brake hold as part of the M3 Competition equipment and describes the current car's drivetrain choices, but those details do not establish a complete safety specification. The 2022 display change to iDrive 8 is an infotainment update rather than a documented safety system. Buyers comparing current M3 versions would need market-specific equipment and independent test information to assess active safety, passive protection and assistance features.
Strengths
The current M3's strongest documented qualities are its breadth of configuration and its continuity with the 3 Series. It retains a rear-wheel-drive option and, for the first time in M3 history, offers optional xDrive all-wheel drive. The range also spans a manual standard model, an automatic Competition version and a more powerful CS derivative. The G81 Touring adds estate practicality without leaving the M3 family. Output rises from 473 hp in the standard car to 503 hp in Competition form and 550 hp in the CS. This gives the current generation a wider role than earlier saloon-only or coupé-focused versions, while preserving a clear performance-oriented identity.
The BMW M3 is best understood as a vehicle for performance driving with daily usability, with specifications and equipment organized by current generation and market.
Considerations
The current range involves meaningful trade-offs between transmission, drivetrain and body style. A manual gearbox is tied to rear-wheel drive, while the M3 Competition is automatic-only and the M3 CS is all-wheel-drive and automatic-only. The twin-kidney grille is noted as controversial by critics, making exterior acceptance subjective. Those omissions matter when comparing a particular vehicle rather than the generation in general.
Recommended use
The saloon suits buyers seeking the conventional current M3 body style, while the G81 Touring broadens the model toward estate-based everyday use. Rear-wheel drive and the available manual transmission provide the clearest documented route to a more traditional driver-focused specification. The Competition version targets buyers prioritising higher output and an automatic transmission, with xDrive available within the broader current range. The M3 CS is positioned as the most powerful and weight-reduced current variant in the extract, but its automatic and all-wheel-drive configuration narrows the choice of layout.
FAQ
Q: What is the current BMW M3 generation? A: The current generation is the G80 saloon and G81 Touring, produced from 2020 onward.
Q: Is the current M3 available as a Touring? A: Yes. The G81 is the first M3 Touring estate offered by BMW.
Q: Does the M3 still offer rear-wheel drive? A: Yes. Rear-wheel drive remains available, with xDrive offered optionally.
Q: Is a manual gearbox available? A: Yes, but the reference limits it to the standard rear-wheel-drive M3.
Q: How powerful is the M3 Competition? A: The extract lists 503 hp and 650 N⋅m for the M3 Competition.
Q: What is the M3 CS? A: It is a limited-production current variant with 550 hp, AWD and an eight-speed automatic.
What makes the BMW M3 different?
The BMW M3 is best understood as a vehicle for performance driving with daily usability, with specifications and equipment organized by current generation and market.
Who should consider it?
Performance driving with daily usability
Sources & updates
Research for this BMW M3 profile prioritized current manufacturer specifications, model-year equipment pages and official press material. Independent safety or regulatory records were used where available. Historical references were kept separate from current-generation specifications and image identification.
Equipment, pricing and certified figures can vary by market, trim and model year. The expandable reference list below contains the linked sources used for verification. Last editorial review: August 30, 2026.
Last editorial review: August 30, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.