The only thing talked about more than all the front grill/bumper leaks of the next M3, is the fact that the next generation M3 will more than likely come equipped with some sort of all-wheel-drive system.

The current generation BMW M5/M5 Competition come equipped with a fancy all-wheel-drive system that allows the driver to control either all-wheel-drive or opt for an enthusiast choice rear-wheel-drive via the iDrive system. The next generation M3 will get some variant of that, but what if I told you that the current BMW M340i xDrive is about 80% of an all-wheel-drive BMW M3?

Danny Korecki Danny Korecki

The power

So the BMW M340i comes equipped with a turbocharged inline 6 cylinder engine pushing out 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.

Let me set the tone by saying I daily drive a 2012 BMW E92 M3. I get about 30 horsepower more, but the M340i crushes my torque figures by 25ish short of a 100. If that isn't deserving of its ///M badge I don't know what is.

Danny Korecki Danny Korecki

Comfort to Sport Plus is more extreme

I have driven pretty much near every BMW new made in the last 10 years. I am arguing that when you are in a BMW M3/M4/M5 - M-something, that the change from Comfort modes to the nutty Sport Plus modes is noticeable, but not as noticeable as it is in the M340i.

When you have the M340i in the most economical modes, like ECO Pro, the M340i is the ultimate commuter-miles-per-gallon machine. Press the Sport button and go even higher to Sport Plus it becomes angry. I argue that its angry-level is more drastic than in a M3 as M3s are performance machines where everything below a M3 is commuter/luxury first and performance second. A M3's Sport/Plus modes are far more angry overall, but I am specifically referring to the change from Comfort to Sport.

Danny Korecki Danny Korecki

In its Comfort/Eco modes, the M340i barely sounds like its on, but in the Sport/Sport Plus modes, the exhaust is popping/crackling giving you some of those exhaust notes you have come to love from ///M cars. Where as M3's crackle/pop in pretty much every mode dependant on your right foot.

FYI - This is how loud the M340i actually is:

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The all-wheel-drive M3 future

Like I mentioned, the next generation M3 is rumored to get an all-wheel-drive system that will be AWD or RWD changeable, but the M340i xDrive gives you a look into what a M3 could drive like if you left it in all-wheel-drive.

It obviously does not have a rear-wheel option via iDrive, but it does drive really well in all-wheel-drive giving you that inside look into the M3 AWD future.

Closing thoughts

The all-wheel-drive M3 future is upon us.

If you cannot wait to scratch that M3 all-wheel-drive itch, the BMW M340i xDrive is definitely worth a look. If I were to throw a figure at it, a BMW M340i xDrive is about 80% of what a future AWD M3 could be, but don't think of that 80% as a B grade, as it is a heck of a vehicle. Well deserving of the ///M badge.