SPY PICS: BMW M4 Coupe

Ever since the release of the new BMW 3-Series sedan earlier this year, speculation has been mounting as to what the new M versions would look like.

Now, thanks to these exclusive spy-photos, we have an insight into the makeup of the Bavarian brand’s new M4 coupe.

In a move seen as an attempt to have its 3-Series based coupes compete directly with Audi’s A5 coupe (which is essentially a two-door A4), BMW will rechristen the car the 4 Series.

While the M-fettled sedan will continue to be known as the M3, its two door counterpart will adopt the M4 moniker. The nomenclature mirrors BMW’s naming protocol further up the range, with the two-door equivalent of the 5 Series wearing 6 Series badges since the 1970s.

4 Series test mules have been snapped pounding the Nurburgring and elsewhere for months, but this is the first time the spy photographers at Carparazzi have caught the much-anticipated M4 in action.

Tell-tale signs that this is an M4 can be seen in the quartet of pipes protruding from below the rear skirt, the blacked-out lightweight alloy wheels, and the low-profile and wide-section rubber.

The test mule also appears to have a slightly deeper front fascia than the 4 Series photographed previously, along with larger inlets either side of the grille’s centre section.

BMW has ditched the bonnet bulge of the current generation M3 in deference to the switch from the current V8 power plant, to an in-line six-cylinder. While bent eight fans may lament the passing of the free-spinning 4.0-litre V8, traditionalists will be pleased BMW has returned the M3 to its in-line six cylinder layout.

BMW North America President, Ludwig Willisch, confirmed in May that the company had considered a V6 turbo for the M3 and M4 twins, but had settled on an in-line six-cylinder turbo engine. Willisch also confirmed that the next M3, and by extension the M4, will be lighter, faster, more powerful, and more efficient than the current model.

However, he left open the question of whether the new engine will feature two or three turbos. Pundits clearly favour the tri-turbo route, but a source told Carsales that such speculation may be off-the-mark and could be confused by BMW’s adoption of tri-turbo technology on its high-performance diesels. 

Whatever the outcome, it’s expected the new engine will be good for a staggering 335kW, giving it performance to match a Porsche 911 Carrera.

BMW Australia's Head of Corporate Communications, Piers Scott, told Carsales the 4 Series coupe and the hard-top convertible were due “mid to late next year”, but that the M3 replacement “will be a 2014 car”.

It’s unclear at this stage whether the M3 sedan and M4 coupe will launch simultaneously, or if there will be an even longer wait for the latter.

— with Carparazzi

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