The upcoming 2021 BMW M3 (G80) is likely the most hotly anticipated BMW on the horizon. While its styling might draw some conflicted opinions among enthusiasts, what lies underneath should be something truly special. Its release is also imminent, so we figured we’d give you give facts that you should know before it gets here.

S58 Engine

Under the hood of this new G80 BMW M3 will be the M Division’s S58 engine. It’s a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 based on BMW’s B58 engine and is one of the best M engines since the E92 M3’s 4.0 liter V8. It will come in two flavors; 473 horsepower and 503 horsepower; and also brings a much better sound than the previous F80-generation M3. The S58 engine is also used in the BMW X3 M and is fantastic in that car. So we’re very excited to use it in a smaller, lighter package.

Drive-by-Wire Brakes

One of the M Division’s latest technological darlings is its drive-by-wire brake system. It was first introduced in the BMW M8 and it will make its way to the BMW M3 quite soon. Like all drive-by-wire brake systems, it removes the mechanical link between the brake pedal and the calipers, handling it all electronically. The benefit of that is the addition of two brake modes. So, like the M8, the BMW M3 will have both Comfort and a Sport brake modes.

Bespoke M3 Chassis

While the BMW M3 is based on the standard 3 Series, it won’t exactly have the same chassis as the 3 Series. In fact, M engineers describe the M3’s chassis as being largely bespoke. According to Autocar, who recently had the chance to drive a pre-production M3, BMW M says that the only parts of the chassis shared between the M3 and 3 Series are the pickup points for the suspension. Everything else has been changed, upgraded and stiffened for M3-duty.

Manual Gearbox with Defeatable Auto Rev-Match

The BMW M3 will come with a proper manual gearbox option, thank the car gods. A six-speed manual will be the standard transmission on rear-wheel drive models and will be available on both the standard and Competition-spec models. However, all-wheel drive models won’t get the manual.

More importantly than that, there will be a way to easily defeat the auto rev-match function. So while auto rev-matching will be built into the car, and likely be the default mode, drivers will be able to turn it off. In all previous BMWs with rev-matching, the only way to defeat it was to also disable stability control, which frustrated a lot of enthusiasts. In the new M3, it will be independently defeatable.

Rear-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive

For the first time ever in an M car, the G80 BMW M3 will be available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive will be as-standard on all models but will be available with an M-tuned xDrive all-wheel drive system. That will provide a wider customer base than the M3 has ever had, as customers in snowier climates have often opted for cars from Audi, due to their all-wheel drive.

Now, those same customers have a proper BMW M3 they can use everyday, in all seasons. It must be said, though, that all-wheel drive M3s will only be available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.