Rumors: Spy Shots–New BMW M4 Shows Its Face
For over a year now, word on the street was that BMW was going to be renaming its venerable 3-Series coupe as the 4-Series. Then, several months ago, spy photographers scooped prototype 4-Series covertibles out and about during testing. And now, Autoblog recently snapped what appears to be the M4, the ‘M’ version of the 4-Series on the road in Europe.
The specific details on the M4 are currently scarce, but when it does arrive it should come packing the same biturbo inline six-cylinder engine that will be powering the new M3. Click through and read our previous Rumors post on the M3’s new engine. Power output from the blown six-cylinder is likely to be in the 450 horsepower range, which would make the M3 and M4 even greater threats to the hot offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
Splitting the 3-Series models into two separate brands is similar to the approach that BMW took with the 5-Series and 6-Series–distinguishing the coupe (4-Series) from the sedan (3-Series) will allow BMW to create a unique personality around the car. BMW is reportedly also going to be doing the same thing to the 1-Series coupe and convertible by creating a new 2-Series with those cars.
Visually, the M4 should benefit from quad exhausts protruding from the back, different wheels, plenty of M badges, and other visual cues that let passing motorists know that this is no ordinary car. No word yet on when we could see the M4 on our shores, but we do know the new generation of M3 sedan will be the first of the two ‘M’ cars to launch, so we’ll have to wait and see.
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