Next-gen BMW M4 leaked ahead of world premiere

·         Blacked-out grille and new air intakes are the design highlights up front

·         Will be powered by a 3.0-litre, twin-turbo straight-six producing more than 500hp

The all-new BMW M4 appears to have been leaked in a social media post ahead of its official reveal later this year. The image, first posted on Reddit from what looks like a BMW facility, shows the model's front-end look without disguise for the first time. 

What does it look like?

The M4's grille appears to be even more prominent than that of the new 2020 4 Series on which its based, thanks to black detailing. It's also flanked by new lower intakes, as is typical with M models. BMW claims the new grille design is inspired by that of the iconic 328 sports car from the 1930s. The bonnet too, appears to have muscular-looking creases.

Previous spy shots showed the new generation of Munich's sports coupé with limited disguise, with bulky rear wheel arches that afford a more muscular stance, and a swooping rear deck like that of the brand's flagship M8. Differences between this and the standard 4 Series are familiar, with the return of bigger intakes and quad exhaust tailpipes. 

What’s under the hood of the new M4?

The new BMW M4 and M3 will receive a significantly upgraded twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing more than 507hp in its top form. The 3.0-litre powerplant, which carries the internal codename S58, is a development of the firm’s standard B58 unit, as used in the existing 440i and other BMW models.

But as M division officials have revealed to our sister publication Autocar UK, “It is for all intents and purposes an all-new drivetrain with significant changes to the base engine that allow it to rev beyond 7000rpm and deliver a much higher specific output” than today’s S55 engine.

Secrecy surrounds the rest of the M4’s mechanical make-up. However, insiders suggest it is in line to abandon tradition by adopting a conventional 8-speed automatic gearbox and a similar xDrive four-wheel drive system to the latest M5 (with an M-Dynamic mode dispensing power to the rear wheels) in at least one version. 

Is it coming to India?

Given that the first-generation M4 was on sale in India, it is safe to assume that BMW will bring the new M4 to our shores in future, albeit in limited numbers. In terms of rivals, the new BMW M4 will compete with the recently-launched Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe.