It’s been a while since we’ve seen the BMW M4
Convertible, but spy photographers have snapped the drop top undergoing testing
near Munich. Dressed in heavily camouflage, the car has an evolutionary design
which will incorporate some styling cues seen on the Concept 4. Details are
hard to make out, but the prototype has a massive grille which is flanked by
slender headlights. Further below, we can expect an aggressive front bumper
with large air intakes.
Moving further back, the M4 has bulging fender
flares and aerodynamic side skirts. We can also see an upward sweeping beltline
and lightweight wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system
with blue calipers.
The biggest change is the return of the
retractable soft top. This should help to reduce weight, but it comes at a cost
a drivers will likely find bigger blind spots. The rear end looks pretty tame,
but the car’s four-tailpipe exhaust system hints at the power underneath the
hood. This message is further enhanced by the rear spoiler which appears to
feature an integrated third brake light.
Inside, the cabin should largely echo the 3-Series.
As a result, we can expect a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display and a
10.25-inch infotainment system. There should also be a handful of sporty
touches including a leather-wrapped M steering wheel and plenty of M badging.
Of course, what really matters is under the hood.
Power is expected to be provided by the same 3.0-liter M TwinPower Turbo engine
that resides in the X3 M and X4 M. There it produces 473 hp and 599 Nm of torque. BMW
also offers a more powerful Competition variant which packs 503 hp and 599 Nm of torque.
There have been a lot of rumors surrounding the M3
and M4, but reports have suggested the cars will be offered with rear and
all-wheel drive as well as a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic. Of
course, we’ll get a better idea of what to expect when the M3 debuts next year.
