BMW has released a video teaser that includes the first official driving shots of the new M3 sedan as well as confirms a handful of development “secrets” about the G80-generation model.

The six-minute clip is entitled Shaping the icon and shows the new M3 being put through its paces at Nürburgring Nordschleife (as well as on surrounding roads).

Christian Flessa, head of driving dynamics systems development at BMW M, talks us through the “secrets” behind developing the new model, while also riding shotgun with Peter Schmid, head of driving dynamics systems for the new M3 and M4.

Flessa confirms the new M3 will be offered in both “standard” rear-wheel-drive form and with the Munich-based firm’s “new M xDrive” all-wheel-drive setup (the latter with a “friction coefficient meter”). The two engineers also talk about the braking system, aerodynamics and the M differential.

A report from earlier in June 2020 claimed the new BMW M3 and M4 would launch in “Pure” rear-wheel-drive form, with xDrive variants to follow later. Pure-badged variants are expected to use the German company’s S58 turbocharged 3,0-litre straight-six offering 353 kW to the rear axle via a six-speed manual gearbox.

The all-wheel-drive Competition derivatives, meanwhile, will join the range only late in 2021, according to that report. Offering the full-fat 375 kW, these versions of the new M3 and M4 will use an eight-speed automatic transmission powering all four corners.

Watch the video below for more details about the new M3…

Original article from Car