I've been trying to find out information regarding the next generation M3, but BMW is keeping their lips tight. With word of a new V10 M5 on the way, the current model's perfectly suitable V8 would be the right choice to quash any limelight Audi's new V8 S4 hopes to attract. Also the news that BMW plans to reenter the much revered, championship winning V8 powered M3 GTR into ALMS puts credence to this rumor.
But to me, it doesn't really matter either way. The current M3 is as good a car as I have ever driven - and I've driven a lot of superb cars. While I would love the added horsepower and torque of the M5 V8, I would miss the sweet revving, perfectly balanced inline-6.
Lost in such mesmerizing thoughts I made my way back to BMW's west coast headquarters. Of course, during my last hour the clouds parted to azure patches of sky. It was still misting slightly, but nonetheless I took the only opportunity I would have to drop the top. People looked at me as though I was crazy, but no matter, I was thoroughly enjoying a brief moment of automotive nirvana in a perfect car - something that doesn't occur very often.
I'm glad I put the roof down for more reasons than that wind in the hair tingling sensation. The cloth roof does such a good job of quelling decibels that I would have never known how delectable its exhaust blat sounds otherwise. Sharp blips on the accelerator pedal produced rasping notes not unlike the shotgun wail of songster Tom Waits, careening from plate glass storefront to painted brick retaining wall, and then bouncing from one downtown office building to another - like I initially said, annoying to some but perfect to others.