BMW M4 Coupe is unveiled at Pebble Beach in California, on sale early next year
The BMW M4 Coupe - successor to the three-door M3 - was revealed at a private BMW event in California. It’s too early for BMW make any comments yet in terms of price, but, the manual M4 is expected to start from around £60,000 – that’s around £5,000 more than its predecessor.
It was revealed at a private BMW event in California, ahead of a public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
And while it’s officially still a concept, don’t be fooled – the car you see here is 99 per cent representative of what you’ll be able to buy early next year.
The concept is finished in unique Aurum-Dust metallic paintwork, and gives us our
first glimpse at a whole family of new M models, which will include the M4 Coupé, M3 Saloon and M4 Convertible.
Production versions of the Coupé and Saloon will debut together at January’s Detroit Motor Show, with first deliveries here in the spring. The folding hard-top Convertible will arrive later in the year. But our sources tell us the 3 Series GT, 3 Series Touring and forthcoming 4 Series Gran Coupé won’t get the ‘M’ treatment.
BMW is labelling the M4 a styling concept at this point, so there are no official engineering details on the chassis or engine. However, we already know the old E92 M3’s naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 will be replaced by a new twin-turbo 3.0 six-cylinder, which is designed to improve fuel consumption while increasing performance. This engine is derived from BMW’s new modular engine family, which will include three, four and six-cylinder diesel and petrol units, and is expected to deliver 438bhp and 480Nm of torque. That’s 24bhp and 80Nm more than in the old M3 Coupé, even though the newcomer weighs up to 100kg less.
A significant improvement in performance is expected, with 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph likely.
While the bigger, 552bhp M6 is automatic only, the M4 will be offered with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox. But the seven-speed twin-clutch DCT automatic version is expected to be the bigger seller.
To bring the handling up to scratch, engineers will tweak the suspension layout with lower springs and stiffer, adjustable dampers. A wider track front and rear will aid stability and fill out the flared wheelarches, while a revised M differential will help the driver to execute the smoky drifts for which these cars are famous. Plus, new electromechanical steering will be tuned for sharper reactions than the standard car.
As with the old M3 Coupé, a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof helps reduce overall weight and lower the centre of gravity. This time, though, it’s finished with a stripe in the BMW M colours of red, navy blue and sky blue. CFRP is also used for the front splitter and rear diffuser – part of a weight-saving programme to ensure the M4 is 80-100kg lighter than the M3.
At the front, the 4 Series’ bonnet has gained a power dome, hinting at the potent engine underneath. The grille wears a subtle M4 badge, and carries a twin-bar pattern to match the 20-inch double-spoke alloys.
Three enormous intakes feed air to the engine, but also play an important aerodynamic role. Two Aero Curtains at the outer edges of the front bumper help smooth airflow over the wheels, while Air Breathers (incorporated into a redesigned M ‘gill’) release air pressure at the other side of the arch. Behind the 20-inch alloys, gold calipers clamp M Carbon brake discs – confirmation that carbon-ceramic discs will be an option for the first time.
From the rear, the wider wheelarches – to accommodate the broader track – can clearly be seen. There’s also a smoothly curved boot lip spoiler, which is a nod towards the lightweight E46 M3 CSL. Four tailpipes, wrapped in carbon fibre, sit either side of the CFRP diffuser.
There are no pictures of the interior yet – we’ll have to wait until the Detroit show for that – but it’s a safe bet that the usual leather and Alcantara sports seats, carbon fibre trim and ‘M’ badging will be applied.
