With a possible triple-turbo six-cylinder, recent spy shots of the F30 show the car in near-final form on the Nürburgring. Sharing its basic design with the new 2012 BMW 3-Series, the F30 looks complete with pumped fenders, quad exhaust tips, uprated brakes, and oversized intakes but unlike the current M3, it looks to lack the power bulge found on the hood. Could the new F30 be a six-cylander, down from a screaming 4.0-liter V-8 in the previous version?

Spy shots also suggest that the F30 will sport LED fog lights alongside the classic BMW ring-shaped headlights.

Let’s get down to power: The next-gen M Division turbo six range around 450 horsepower with a given inline six-cylinder layout. As of now, BMW is the only one that knows whether the F30 will feature two turbos or the rumored three. What is known is that it is said to be all-new and not an updated version N54/N55 that the current 3-Series has. Displacement is expected around 3.3 liters.

The 2013 M3 generation is scheduled to arrive around the end of the year.

Photos by Brenda Priddy & Company