Using a really simple spreadsheet, trend analysis and the specs from a bunch of M and non M 3 series cars I have predicted the price, weight and performance of the new M3.
Min Max
curb weight lb 3588 3632
hp 398 424
torque 297 301
0-60 mph 3.8 4.1
0-100 km/hr 4.5 4.6
base price $ 53135 53260
I just gathered all of this info. for the first model years for the E36 328, E36 M3, E46 330ci and E46 M3 and did some simple trending through series and from non M car to M car. The figures using both methods came out remarkably close and just about nailed the hp figure perfectly (we have been told 400, but many expect 420 to compete with cars that will be soon available). I will post my spreadsheet later today on an ftp site. Some of the numbers are not perfect, I just pulled them a bit randomly from the web. I also chose to use the first year in the series for price (may or may not be a great assumption). Again this is only one very simple way to predict, more of a marketing approach, but it is unbiased and purely mathematical. You can use the spreadsheet to predict other data you may be interested in about the car. Of course the major change of I6 to V8 also makes this approach less valid but heck all numbers look very reasonable to me. Enjoy.
ftp://ftp.vasci.com/misc/e92m3.xls