With months before its public debut, the 2021 BMW M4 has been leaked once again. And as expected, no surprises there. The front fascia is identical to the previous leak, featuring the oversized kidney grille seen on the new BMW 4 Series Coupe, but with a twist. The slats are now horizontal and they’re functional. So while the 4 Series gets the mesh grille, the new M3 and M4 will distinguish themselves with this new design approach.
Furthermore, the kidneys are all blacked out which we’ve recently learned that it was done at the request of the U.S. market.
The front-end is also dominated by two large air intakes and a carbon fiber lip on the bottom of the bumper. The license plate is also missing from this prototype.
Manual Transmission and All-Wheel Drive
As we’ve reported before, the G80 M3 and G82 M4 will have an all-wheel drive configuration, and secondly, there will be a manual transmission for the two cars. The manual option will only be available with a rear-wheel drive configuration, in a model developed internally under the codename “Pure”.
The “Pure” models are rumored to have restyled aprons front and rear, their own wheel design, an optional standalone signature paint job, special fabric and alcantara upholstery, color-coded cabin trim and bespoke instrument graphics.
The all-wheel drive M3 and M4 will be paired with an eight-speed automatic, refined by the M engineers. Similar to what we’ve seen in the X3 M and X4 M.
An All-New Engine – S58
Recently, the M boss Markus Flasch also confirmed the S58 engine. “The next BMW M3 will have the brand new S58 engine that we’re launching in the X3 M and X4 M,” he said. “It will have 480bhp in the standard version and 510bhp in the Competition version.”
Competition-spec cars will get all-wheel drive/automatic and rear-wheel drive/manual drivetrains.
Of course, future and sportier variants of the M3 and M4 will build upon this new engine and deliver even more power. Which brings us to the next point.
CS and CSL Models
The GTS name has been retired from the M3/M4 family and instead we will once again get a CSL version. Details around this “ultimate sportscar” are still unknown, but it’s fair to assume that lightweight construction, exclusive looks and plenty of power are all options on the table.
The CS moniker will also be revived. It’s already been successfully used in the current generation F80/F82, and will be part of the new M family as well.
Production and Market Launch
First production units of the G80 M3 and G82 M4 will roll off in November 2020, but first deliveries are expected, globally, in early 2021.
But it’s not only the new M3 and M4 that are going to arrive this year. Work on the BMW M4 GT3 racing car has already begun and BMW Motorsport says that rollout is planned for the second half of 2020.
[Top Render: @zer.o.wt]
