BMW M2 and M4 GTS for Oz

BMW Australia is keen as mustard to get its hands on two hot new M coupes in 2016, the M2 and M4 GTS – both of which promise neck-snapping acceleration and extreme cornering abilities.

Performance specifications on the new Audi RS 3-rivalling BMW M2 Coupe support a jaw-dropping 4.3-second sprint to 100km/h thanks to a 272kW/465Nm version of BMW's 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline six.

The M4 GTS is even wilder, with a cracking 368kW power output and no less than 600Nm of torque thanks to its water-injected twin-turbo six, allowing the larger coupe to charge to 100km/h in a supercar-rivalling 3.8 seconds and a 300km/h-plus top speed.

BMW Group Australia CEO Marc Werner says there was more than enough room in Australia for both new M cars, which are expected on sale here in the first half of next year, with buyer appetites for high-end performance machinery sky-rocketing.

"Obviously going forward there is room for additional derivatives. We have not made any announcements yet, however, you can expect that what you see overseas as far as the M2 — but even the M4 GTS — is concerned. We are looking into that for Australia as well."

Werner wouldn't be drawn on arrival times for the two halo models in Australia but motoring.com.au understands both models will be here in the second quarter of 2016. And it's clear both are going to be hot property once they arrive.

The M2 is expected to be one of most affordable M cars yet – at around $100,000 – and potentially one of the most popular. The 270km/h compact coupe should add considerably to BMW's increasing M-car sales volume in Australia, while giving AMG something to think about.

"We are very happy with our current M sales performance. For the first time ever we'll sell 1000 M cars in Australia [in 2015] – a fantastic result," said Werner.

"I'm talking about pure M cars — not M Performance but the die-hard M cars.

"I'm also happy to say that Australia together with the US have the highest BMW M share worldwide – as a percentage of total sales. It's around four per cent [in Australia]."

The M4 GTS, on the other hand, will be in short supply, not only because it'll cost a packet more than the standard M4 Coupe ($149,900), but also because only 700 are being built globally.

It's not known how many are coming to Australia but expect a price of more than $200,000.

Not unlike Audi Sport and Mercedes-AMG sales, BMW Australia's growing share of global M sales is good news for Aussie buyers, says Werner.

"This automatically increases our share of voice with headquarters not only when it comes to future products, but also to additional support to make the necessary investments in Australia to move the business forward," he said.

"That is very encouraging going forward and so we're looking to further expand the M product portfolio on the one side, but it's not only about expanding product portfolio but giving additional benefits to the M customers, like M driving days and the like," said Werner.

The Munich-based prestige car maker also has an ace up its sleeve – a new joint-venture supercar project with Toyota that's been at least four years in the making.

Quizzed over the alliance, which will spawn at least one sports car from each company, the BMW Australia boss was coy.

"We have a strategic alliance with Toyota with respect to various technologies including even product platforms, but unfortunately it's too early to comment or announce what this co-operation will reveal," he said.

He did concede that "going forward there will be some announcement in the short-term" and agreed there was room in the BMW range for another high-performance model alongside the i8 plug-in hybrid coupe, which has found 50 Australian homes since last December.

"There's certainly room for another vehicle. So far we are quite happy with the BMW i8. It's been quite a good success particularly in the Aussie market, if you take a look at our sales figures.

"We are outselling some of our core competitors in the segment, which is an outstanding result given it’s a brand-new technology. You see there is an appetite from Australian customers for hybrid vehicles, which is very encouraging."