It’s here: the new BMW M4 Coupe

That ‘power dome' on the bonnet. The huge front apron and front splitter. The muscular sills and those famous quad exhaust pipes. Yep, it's here: meet the concept BMW M4 Coupe.

Don't be too fooled by the concept tag, because we're pretty certain this is how the production version of BMW's iconic sports coupe will look, and doesn't it look...mighty?

Let's start with the front. As mentioned, there's that classic power dome on the bonnet, a tiny M4 emblem - a badge seen here for the first time - attached to the double-bar kidney grille, a new front apron and a carbon fibre front splitter. There are three large air intakes too, which "supply the high performance power unit with sufficient cooling air". Sadly, we are not told what this high performance power unit is, but we have a fair idea. More of that below.

It's difficult to tell from these shots whether the wheel arches have been pumped up, but we're told the new M4 Coupe gets a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, lowering the centre of gravity etc etc. There are ‘M gills' that work with the front apron to ventilate the wheel arches too, filled by 20in light alloys.

Finally, you get to the rear: four exhaust pipes as per The M Rules, a taller bootlid for aero, flat taillights, a carbon fibre rear diffuser and sculpted rear apron. And that's all we're told.

Looks like a proper M car, doesn't it? Though BMW is being shy with the tech stuff, we have an idea of what some of the meat will taste like: it'll most probably sport a modified version of the 435i's 3.0-litre turbocharged six-pot engine up front, producing somewhere around 450bhp, together with a DCT gearbox and a limited slip diff. It'll also be lightweight, and it'll be suitably hardcore. There might - might - even be a hardcore CSL version in the works, too, so imagine this on lovelier rims and a revised front apron. Of course, none of this is official, but we'll report back as soon as BMW makes it so.

"The BMW Concept M4 Coupe reflects the BMW M philosophy in ideal form," says M chief Dr Friedrich Nitschke. "It combines motor racing genes and unrestricted everyday suitability in a highly emotional overall concept. For four generations, the BMW M3 has put motor racing on the road, and the BMW Concept M4 Coupe consistently continues to pursue this fundamental idea."

What do you think, TopGear.commers?

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