Once BMW->ke178 confirmed that the coupe->ke141 and convertible->ke144 versions of the 1 Series would be marketed as the 2 Series, it was clear as daylight that a high performance M2 version is underway.

We've already rendered the successor to the cool 1M and strolled through plenty of details about the upcoming coupe, but the time has come to have a look at the real deal, as our skilled paparazzi have caught a prototype version of the M2 stretching its wheels somewhere in Germany->ke2091.

Far from being a production-ready vehicle, this mule wears front and rear fascias similar to those seen on the M235i Coupe, but it appears to be fitted with wider fenders. Other details that highlight the vehicle's ankle-biting nature are the M-style wheels wrapped in Michelin tires and the cross-drilled rotors paired with blue brake calipers.

As development continues, we're expecting to see a more aggressive front bumper, a more pronounced rear diffuser, and quad exhaust pipes.

Naturally, the M2 will be the most powerful model in the 2-Series range, with its twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six to deliver around 400 horsepower. That's about 80 horses more than the M235i, just enough to turn the M2 into a heck of a coupe.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 BMW M2 Coupe.

Why It Matters

The 1M was arguably one of the coolest BMWs launched in the 21st century, often labeled as a genuine return to BMW roots. If the Germans follow the same recipe – and they would be insane not to – the M2 is more than likely to become a strong leader in its segment.

Spy Shots

BMW M2 Coupe - rendering