BMW 4 Series Coupe leaked

The next-generation BMW 4 Series has been leaked and teased overnight ahead of its official debut on June 2.

The first image appeared on the official dedicated BMW livestream page that it will use to unveil both the upcoming 5 Series and 6 Series Gran Turismo facelifts.

Thought to show the flagship M440i, the official teaser shot – like the illicit leaks that surfaced later and previous spy shots – reveals that the sportier two-door take on the 3 Series will indeed feature the imposing kidney grille of the Concept 4.

It was thought BMW might have toned-down the concept's huge grille after the controversy that followed its debut at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show last September.

But it appears the confronting 'beaver-style' take on the car-maker's trademark grille will go into production, flanked by a pair of larger headlights.

BMW’s designers have also been brave at the rear of the new 4 Series, where production models also goes ahead with the concept's sharp lines and a bumper that incorporates large wheel-arch extractors and a big rear diffuser.

As with the front-end, more generously-sized tail-lights appear to be the only concession in transitioning the Concept 4 from concept to production reality.

Inside, the 2021 BMW 4 Series' cabin is a lot less daring, closely resembling that of the 3 Series sedan.

BMW has already released details of the M440i xDrive ahead of its reveal.

Powered by the same turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine as the BMW M340i xDrive sedan, the M440i Coupe powertrain differs by adopting the car-maker’s latest 48-volt mild-hybrid technology.

Employing an 8kW starter/generator and a small lithium-ion battery, the set-up boosts efficiency by allowing the car to coast at highway speeds and also improves response at low engine speeds.

Total power for the hybridised 3.0-litre turbo engine is claimed to be 275kW – identical to the M340i xDrive – but expect it to be quicker off the line and have superior in-gear acceleration compared to the sedan, thanks to its electrical assistance.

Like the M340i, the new M440i gets an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system ably assisted by BMW’s M Sport active differential on the rear axle.

As standard, the BMW M440i gets a big brake package and 18-inch wheels, but that will probably grow to 19s for Australia.

Combined with 23mm wider front and rear wheel tracks, a 57mm lower roof height and 21mm lower centre of gravity are guaranteed to give the 4 Series coupe a dynamic edge over the 3 Series sedan it’s based on.

Although it shares the sedan’s double-joint sprint-strut front-end and five-link rear suspension, engineers have retuned the M440i for a sportier drive.

Bolstering rigidity, the 4 Series features under-bonnet strut braces and an extra front bulkhead panel that’s claimed to increase steering precision.

At the rear of the car yet more bracing elements have been introduced to increase stiffness, which BMW says improves straight-line stability and lateral acceleration.

Set to be launched around July this year, the new BMW 4 Series will be followed by new two-door 4 Series Convertible and all-new four-door Gran Coupe derivatives, but most car enthusiasts will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new BMW M4 Coupe.

The next-gen BMW M3 and M4 will come with the same S58 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six as the new BMW X3 and X4 M Competition mid-size SUVs.

Those models produce 375kW of power and 600Nm of torque, which is what we expect both the G80-series M3 and G82-series M4 to offer in top-shelf Competition guise, matched as standard to an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive.

However, the 2021 BMW M3 and M4 will also be available in entry-level Pure form, combining a 353kW/600Nm tune with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission.

Whether both variants come to Australia remains to be seen, but either way it will be a fascinating contest against the Mercedes-AMG C 63 sedan and coupe.