When BMW announced the new 3 Series, it also announced that the coupe and convertible versions of the luxury car will be offered as the new 4 Series. This meant that the M3 Coupe would slide over too and become the M4 Coupe.

We have already seen the 4 Series Coupe and the M4 Concept, and now it is time to finally see the production version of the M4 Coupe, which looks nearly identical to the concept.

As rumored before, the new M4 will not use the V-8 engine that the M3 Coupe used; rather, it will come with a new in-line six-cylinder engine that will not only be more efficient than the V-8 it replaces, but also more powerful.

The BMW M4 Coupe will be shown at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show->ke222 and it will hit the market in 2014 as a 2015 model.

Until its release, you can enjoy the new M4 Coupe in Gran Turismo 6 between today and December 26th.

Updated 03/18/2014: BMW unveiled a new video showing the new M4 Coupe doing some hot laps at Brands Hatch. Behind the wheel was race car driver Andy Priaulx -- a European and World Touring Car champion -- so the video is a must see. Enjoy!

Click past the jump to read more on the 2015 M4.

2015 BMW M4 Coupe

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 BMW M4 Coupe
  • Engine/Motor: inline-6
  • Horsepower: 425 @ 5500
  • Torque: 406 @ 1850
  • Transmission: 6-speed manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update history

Updated 07/18/2012: The upcoming BMW M4 Coupe has been caught testing for the first time.

Updated 09/25/2013: BMW finally released some general specifications for the new M4 Coupe. Click past the jump to learn them.

Updated 12/11/2013: The first images of the new M4 Coupe also leaked on the internet revealing pretty much the same things everyone knew: it will looks identical to the concept version unveiled earlier this year at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The new M4 Coupe will go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 173 mph. In Germany the model will be priced from &euro72,200 - $99,500 at the current exchange rates. (BMW Blog)

Updated 01/15/2014: After making an official appearance at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, the BMW M4 Coupe will be put into production in later April, with the first deliveries in Europe to be made in late June. No details on when the M4 Coupe will be put on sale on the U.S. market, but in here prices will start from $64,200. (BimmerFest)

Rendering Vs. Reality

There was nearly no mystery to just exactly how the M4 Coupe would look after we saw the concept model. This is why our rendering was so spot-on. The only obvious things we missed included the heat extractors that we added to the hood, the placement of the fender applique, the line in the ground effects and the color of the wheels.

Exterior

When designing the new M4 Coupe, BMW focused its attention on making the car as aerodynamically efficient as possible. Being aerodynamically efficient means that BMW designed the M4 to keep drag as low as possible and to create as much downforce as it could within the design constraints. The latter of these two is where BMW had to be very creative in how it designed every component.

Up front, BMW took its first few steps in making the M4 aerodynamically efficient by forming the front apron and air breather for efficient cooling of both the engine and the brakes, and to reduce lift on the front axle. Also present on the front end are the new twin headlights with optional LED technology, and a power-dome hood -- a clear sign of the M TwinPower Turbo engine hidden beneath it.

The side-view mirrors also received tweaks to optimize the aerodynamic features of the coupe. They were built in a twin-stalk style that not only looks mean, but it also helps reduce aerodynamic drag. The wheel arches are muscular and feature eye-catching surface forms, while the roofline flows smoothly and features an airflow channel to further increase the sporty character of the M4.

Weight loss was another focus with the M4 Coupe, and Bimmer did not skimp in its efforts. First up is a carbon-fiber roof that helps drop the car's curb weight by more than 11 pounds when compared to the M3 Coupe. This lightweight roof also helps lower M4's center of gravity, which reduces body roll and enhances handling. Along with the high-tech roof, are the aluminum front fenders and hood. These lightweight components on the front end also help reduce the front-axle weight of the M4, bringing it closer to the optimal 50:50 weight distribution.

At the rear the M4 is equipped with an integrated rear spoiler made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic and a redesigned trunk lid for even more downforce. Rounding ourt the M4's styling are flared rear wheel arches and a new exhaust system with high-gloss polished twin tailpipes.

Overall, the entire car was designed with intelligent, lightweight features -- some in the drivetrain and some in the suspension system, which we will touch on later -- that help drop its curb weight to just 3,300 pounds weight, which is about 176 pounds lighter than the M3 Coupe with the same equipment.

2014 BMW M4 Coupe - Exterior Dimensions

Length 183.89 inches
Width 73.89 inches
Height 56.06 inches
Wheelbase 110.70 inches
Track, Front / Rear 62.16 / 63.11 inches

2015 BMW M4 Coupe - Standard Exterior Features:

- Lightweight hood with power dome

- Font fenders made from aluminum

- Sculpted front apron with three large air intakes

- Black double-bar kidney grille

- M exterior mirror casings

- Rear apron with integrated diffuser

- Exhaust system with four tailpipes

- Trunk lid with integrated spoiler

- Forged 18-inch BMW M light-alloy wheels with mixed-size tires

Interior

The interior takes its design from the base 4 Series, but with a touch of sportiness, thank to M door sill finishers, an M driver’s footrest, M gearshift lever, M-design circular instruments with white graphics, M leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with chrome trim, contrast stitching, Anthracite headliner and electroplated-look shift paddles (if the M-DCT gearbox is specified).

The front seats are inspired by those found in race cars, as they feature a very flat back with one-piece construction. For buyers who need a little extra comfort, BMW also offers optional electric seats and heated seats. The rear seats are made from a lightweight composite material and can be folded in a 60:40 split.

2014 BMW M4 Coupe - Interior Dimensions\

Headroom (Front / Rear) TBA / TBA
Legroom (Front / Rear) TBA / TBA
Shoulder Room (Front / Rear) TBA / TBA
Hip Room (Front / Rear) TBA / TBA
Interior Volume TBA
Luggage Capacity TBA

Drivetrain

BMW has always rolled out awesome M-Series models, but the naturally aspirated V-8 engine was tired and simply couldn't hang with modern turbocharged engines. So, what did Bimmer do? It responded by replacing the old 4.0-liter V-8 with a high-strung 3.0-liter, in-line six-cylinder engine that features M TwinPower Turbo technology, with Valvetronic and Double VANOS handling the valves and camshaft.

BMW knows that many M4 owners will take to the track in their new sports coupe, so it tuned the oil system to handle the demands presented by racing. When your tackling turns on a race track, the oil tends to slosh around a bit, so BMW installed a lightweight magnesium oil sump that features a cover to eliminate oil starvation. An updated oil return system and oil extraction pump also ensure stable oil flow at all times.

The final technological advancement to the M4's engine is the twin-pipe exhaust system, which features electric flaps that open and close to control back pressure and to give the straight-six a sweet note.

So, what does all of this technology mean in terms of real-life numbers? We're talking about 425 horsepower between 5,500 and 7,300 rpm and 406 pound-feet of torque between 1,850 and 5,500 rpm. Those numbers are not only 11 horsepower and 111 pound-feet more than the outgoing V-8, but the horsepower peaks 2,800 rpm lower and the torque peaks 2,050 rpm lower than the 4.0-liter engine. From the looks of things, the engine has a hard-set "sweet-spot" at the 5,500-rpm mark, which makes maximizing the M4's potential much easier than the old M3 Coupe.

The engine mates to a standard six-speed manual gearbox that weighs 26.4 pounds less than the six-cog gearbox in the M3 Coupe. What's more, this advanced six-speed manual features carbon friction linings on its synchros for smoother shifts and, for the first time ever, it features a throttle blip -- automatic heel-toe -- during downshifts.

Also available is an optional, third-generation seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission. The included Drivelogic system allows the driver to either slap the transmission into manual mode and be greeted by fast and crisp shifts that get the torque and horsepower to the rear wheels with great haste, or make the shifts nice and comfortable for daily driving. Also included with the M-DCT is integrated Launch Control that allows the driver to shoot off of the line like a rocket and hit 60 mph in unreal times. Another benefit is that this M-DCT has a seventh cog to help increase fuel efficiency on those long hauls.

Transferring the power from the transmission to the rear differential is a carbon-fiber prop shaft. As expected, this prop shaft is significantly lighter than the one found under the M3 Coupe -- 40 percent lighter to be precise -- but it is also more rigid, which results in less power loss through the drivetrain and quicker response times when you romp on the gas pedal.

Finishing off the driveline is an Active M Differential driving the rear wheels, which is a limited-slip diff that features hollow output shafts for reduced weight and multiple electronically controlled plates to adjust power to the wheels to optimize traction and performance. The M Active Differential also taps into the Dynamic Stability Control system to grab information on the accelerator's position, rotational speed of the wheels and the yaw rate to optimize the distribution of torque. Thanks to this communication, BMW was able to install M Dynamic Mode in the M4, which when activated, allows the rear wheels to slip a little more, resulting in some sweet drifting sessions.

The result of all of this hard work are some downright impressive numbers, as the M4 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds with the six-speed manual transmission and in 3.9 seconds with the optional seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission. When compared to the M3 Coupe, these acceleration times represent a 0.6-second faster sprint time in both the manual and M-DCT setups. Top speed is limited to 155 mph, which is the same as the M3 Coupe.

BMW anticipates a 25-percent increase in fuel economy from the M3 Coupe, meaning somewhere in the range of 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined.

2014 BMW M4 Coupe - Drivetrain Specifications

Engine Type 3.0-Liter I-6 Turbocharged
Engine Technology M TwinPower Turbo technology with two mono-scroll turbochargers, High Precision Direct Fuel Injection, fully variable valve timing (VALVETRONIC) and variable camshaft control (Double-VANOS)
Output (HP @ RPM) 425 @ 5500–7300
Torque (LB-FT @ RPM) 406 @ 1,850–5,500
Transmission Six-speed manual gearbox (optional: Seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission)
Acceleration (0-60 MPH) 4.1 Sec (W/ Manual) / 3.9 Sec. (W/ M-DCT)
Top Speed 155 mph

Suspension and Brakes

BMW not only made the M4 Coupe into a rocket ship with its new engine, but it also pushed the suspension to a whole new level. It started off with a double-joint spring strut front suspension, featuring a lightweight aluminum control arms, wheel carriers and axle subframes -- this setup is 11 pounds lighter than the same setup in steel.

BMW also rid itself of the standard ball joints that have an "acceptable" amount of play, and installed "play-free" ball joints for more rigidity in the suspension and elastomeric bearings to better handle the abuse they will take on the race track. To push the rigidity even further, BMW installed a CFRP strut-tower brace under the hood, an aluminum stiffening plate and increased the number of bolted joints between the subframe and the front suspension.

On the back end, BMW dropped another 6.6 pounds by installing a new five-link rear suspension system that features aluminum control arms and wheel carriers. Not only does this help drop the M4's curb weight, but it also helps reduce the unsprung weight, thereby enhancing handling. BMW also took a page from the motorsport realm by attaching the rear axle directly to the rear subframe without the use of rubber bushings or grommets. The upside to this rigid construction is enhanced directional control and reduced chances of wheel hop, but the downside is that is will likely make the ride a tad bit uncomfortable.

Putting the rubber to the road -- literally -- is a set of lightweight, 19-inch wheels. On the front, these wheels are sized 9-by-18 inches and around back they are 10-by-18 inches. These rims are wrapped up in 255/40ZR18 Y-rated tires up front and 275/40ZR18 Y-rated tires out back.

The M4 comes standard with electromechanical steering that has three distinct driving modes: Comfort, Sport, Sport+. The steering system also features an integrated Servotronic function that electronically adjusts the level of steering assistance according to the car’s speed. We're not huge fans of electric power steering, as it can be little numb, but it has improved greatly over the past few years.

Prices

The new BMW M4 Coupe will make its world debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and will be put on sale later that year as a 2015 model. Prices will start in the $64,200 area, not including $925 destination and handling.

The 2014 BMW M3 sedan is priced at $62,000.

Options

Option Price
Metallic Paint $550
Driver Assistance Plus $1,900
Executive Package $4,000
Lighting Package $1,900
19" Black Light-Alloy Wheel Double-SpokeStyle 437 M with Mixed Perf. Tires $1,200
Manual Transmission $0
19" Light Alloy Wheel Double-Spoke Style437 M with Mixed Performance Tires $1,200
M Carbon Ceramic Brakes $8,150
M Double-clutch Transmission with Drivelogic $2,900
Adaptive M Suspension $1,000
Power rear sunshade $350
Enhanced USB and Bluetooth plus Smartphone Integration $500
Concierge Services $250
Moonroof $0
Parking Assistant $500
Harman Kardon surround sound system $875
Side and Top View Cameras $750

Spy shots

When we first saw the M4 on May 22nd, 2013, it was on a wet and snowy Nurburgring, there was little to see, which you can tell in the first two images above. It wasn't until November that we saw it in the sexy Sakhir Orange and with very little camo, which you can see in the lower image. There wasn't much to hide, though, so we were pretty surprised to see it carrying camo for so long.

2013 BMW Concept M4 Coupe

BMW unveiled the Concept M4 Coupe earlier in 2013, and it wore a wonderful shade of yellow -- one that we hope makes its way to production. Surprisingly, the Concept M4 looks rather production-like, with an aggressive front apron, large heat extractors behind the front wheels, aggressive side skirts and a stylish rear apron with quad tailpipes and a diffuser.

Competitors

Audi RS5

The M4 ended up looking just as we planned, and that's not necessarily a good thing, as it is pretty "blah." Then again, the RS5 doesn't necessarily knock our socks off.

The RS5 has a 4.2-liter, V-8 engine that delivers a meaty 450 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 317.15 pound-feet available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. Sure, the RS5 has the bragging rights of having more horsepower than the M4, but any motorhead knows that torque and the shape of the horsepower and torque curves greatly impact how fast a car really is. This is precisely where the M4 crushes the RS5, as its horsepower and torque max out at a much lower rpm and it has an extra 89 pound-feet of torque to boot. The end result is the RS4 completing the 0-to-60 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds, which is fast, but still 0.5 seconds slower than the six-speed-equipped M4. The extra ponies and revised top-speed limiter allow the RS5 to trump the M4 in top speed, as it goes up to 174 mph.

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

AMG models are necessarily our favorite performance models, but we have to admit that the C63 AMG Coupe can easily be an exception. Sure, it doesn’t impress us as much as the RS5, but it is still a nice sports coupe.

The C63 AMG is powered by a 6.2-liter, V-8 engine with a total output of 451 horsepower at 6,500 rpm, and 443 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Much like with the RS5, we can see that the M4's torque and horsepower come in much earlier than the C63 AMG's, which is why the more powerful Mercedes sprints to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds -- 0.3 seconds slower than the M4. Top speed is the same as the M4's at 155 mph (electronically limited).

Conclusion

"Oh. my. God." That's about all we can say about the M4. Sure, its body is already showing some age, thanks BMW delaying its release, but the upgrades that BMW gave it when compared to the M3 Coupe make it well worth the wait.

The most impressive of the updates is the suspension system, as BMW simply said "to hell with comfort" and bolted the rear axle directly to the subframe and added rigid ball joints to the front end. Yeah, you could drink milk and churn butter in your belly by driving the M4 down a cobblestone road, but we bet it'll stick to the road like no M Series model before it... Simply amazing, Bimmer...