New Clues Point to BMW F82 M4 Coupe or M6 Gran Coupe as BMW Museum Mystery Car

[Jason]

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New Clues Point to BMW F82 M4 Coupe or M6 Gran Coupe as BMW Museum Mystery Car

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New photos of the mystery shrouded BMW model spotted at the BMW Museum shows that it is indeed a coupe shape, ruling out the possibility that it is the F80 M3 sedan. However, new info and clues provide some guidance on what it may be.

The car is confirmed to have quad exhausts, which confirms that it's an M model. We can think of two upcoming M models expected in the next 2-3 years bearing the shape and size suggested by the photos - the F82 M4 Coupe and M6 Gran Coupe. The rear tires on this model give further clues. They are Michelin Pilot Super Sports in 275/35/19 size, which is too small for the M6 Gran Coupe, which should share similar size tires as the M5/M6 - 295 width rear tires.

The front photos also show what appears to be the new BMW headlight shape design, in which the headlights flow into and connect with the kidney grilles. This was introduced with the 2012 F30 3 series and will be seen on future BMW models, including the F80 M3 sedan and F82 M3 coupe. The M6 Gran Coupe, which will share the same front fascia as the 6 Series Gran Coupe, does not feature this new headlight design, further eliminating it as the model that's potentially under the cover in the photos.

So, perhaps this truly was an F82 M4 coupe prototype (running model or non-running design model), to be uncovered at an after-hours internal event for review by BMW executives and officials.

To recap from the earlier thread on this car:

A mystery BMW model appeared at the BMW Museum a bit over a month ago, shrouded under a big blue tarp. It's yet to be positively identified, but could this possibly be the next generation F80 M3 sedan or F82 M4 coupe?

There's not much to go off of by way of the sparse photos, but the one part of the car that can be partially seen - the wheels, happen to match the wheels that have been spotted on the F80 M3 sedan prototypes from our spy photos. [The rear tires are now confirmed to be Michelin Pilot Super Sports in 275/35/19 size].

It's premature for a F80 M3 concept to be shown, much less an F82 M4 coupe (the F32 4 series coupe upon which the M4 will be based has not even debuted), but is it just our hopeful imagination or do the letters written under the tape in one of the photos possibly read "F82". If this car is indeed the next M3 / M4, what is it doing at the BMW Museum? What we can postulate is that perhaps it was there for a showing to or review by BMW executives.

Don't expect the F80 M3 concept to have a world reveal until sometime in the first half of next year, with the production F80 model debuting at an auto show in late 2013, and actual sales beginning in the Spring of 2014.

The F80 M3 and F82 M4 will be powered by an inline 6 cylinder engine with multiple turbochargers, pushing the engine's output to approximately 450 horsepowers. The engine is now rumored to be an extensively reworked and reinforced N55 6-cylinder engine with a strengthened aluminium block with a heavily modified cylinder head. The Induction technology is said to be completely new as will be the latest bi-vanos variable valve timing.

It's now being reported by BMW insider Scott26 that the F80 M3 will not be constructed extensively from carbon fiber (CFRP), as some reports had rumored. The F82 M4 coupe will receive a CFRP roof, but because this next generation M3/M4 began development two years ago, it was too early to take advantage of BMW's CFRP developments with the later introduction of the BMW i cars/project. The first model (besides the i cars) that will have extensive CFRP incorporated into its construction will be the next generation 7 Series, as reported earlier.

Even without extensive CFRP construction, the next M3/M4 will be lighter than the current M3 sedan and coupe however, owing to its new aluminum chassis, and aluminum and reinforced plastic body panels.

Despite the next M3 sedan being at least 1.5 years away, we know the following. It will be:

• Lighter than current M3
• Faster than current M3
• More powerful than current M3
• More efficient than current M3
• Powered by an inline 6 cylinder [turbo] engine
• Offered with optional or standard manual transmission (if previous spy photos are any indication)
• Electric Power Steering (completely reworked for precision for M3/M4)
• Introduced no earlier than late 2013 - early 2014

Compare to spy photo of F32 4 Series coupe:

Wheels from F80 M3 sedan prototype

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[Uli_HH]

What about an M440i GranCoupe Concept Car ... to introduce the complete new 4er Styling.

[richardg]

Whoever noted that it has quad exhausts should be asked whether it had them off to the sides of the car or more centered. That would answer if this was an M6 or M4. Simple as that. I say it's an M4.

[jaehshim]

it's 2012, come on local people go get the see through cams

[amirz1000]

I think it's an m4 as well. And i would bet its a running prototype model. i would think that if it was a non running model they would put much nicer wheels on it and would have brand new tires

[amirz1000]

Originally Posted by richardg

Whoever noted that it has quad exhausts should be asked whether it had them off to the sides of the car or more centered. That would answer if this was an M6 or M4. Simple as that. I say it's an M4.

There is no way an M6 has 275 tires. So yeah I say M4 as well

[XYR03]

it says F82 on the duct tape so I'm guessing its a M4 coupe.....only time will till. When are they taking the stupid thing off?

[Mako]

Maybe its just a 4 series with the M Sport Package?

I can't see the M4 coupe beign debuted before the M3 Sedan, especially when the regular 4 series hasn't even been shown.

4 series coupe with M Sport package and quad exhausts could be possible! would make the M Sport package more appealing!
"Edit" just noticed the F_2 tape, could just be a tease, the 4 series coupe is the F31, right? M Sport would still be the same number...

[09BlkSapphire]

Originally Posted by Mako

Maybe its just a 4 series with the M Sport Package?

I can't see the M4 coupe beign debuted before the M3 Sedan, especially when the regular 4 series hasn't even been shown.

4 series coupe with M Sport package and quad exhausts could be possible! would make the M Sport package more appealing!

With quad exhaust and 275 wide rear tires? No way.

And nobody said the m4 is debuting before the next M3. Article says it could be there for an internal review or viewing for BMW officials.

[AMB]

What's really sad is that it can't be discerned whether it's a 4 series or 6 series simply from the size of the car. These models should be vastly different in size and weight, with each new iteration the 3/4 series becomes more of a 5/6 series from years past.

Soon enough BMW will need to create a M0 series to reference back to the original heritage of the M3.

[amirz1000]

Originally Posted by Mako

Maybe its just a 4 series with the M Sport Package?

I can't see the M4 coupe beign debuted before the M3 Sedan, especially when the regular 4 series hasn't even been shown.

4 series coupe with M Sport package and quad exhausts could be possible! would make the M Sport package more appealing!
"Edit" just noticed the F_2 tape, could just be a tease, the 4 series coupe is the F31, right? M Sport would still be the same number...

4 series coupe is F32. either way this is an M car for sure. quad exhaust and tire size give that away. We are still a couple years away from the F82 so this is most likely an early prototype model that they will be using for testing under heavy cammo

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Mako

Maybe its just a 4 series with the M Sport Package?

I can't see the M4 coupe beign debuted before the M3 Sedan, especially when the regular 4 series hasn't even been shown.

4 series coupe with M Sport package and quad exhausts could be possible! would make the M Sport package more appealing!
"Edit" just noticed the F_2 tape, could just be a tease, the 4 series coupe is the F31, right? M Sport would still be the same number...

This wouldn't be a public unveiling, just an internal presentation. The F80 has already been shown to select buyers outside of BMW, so now would be about the time that the F82 would start making the rounds internally at the company.

The 4-series coupe is the F32. The F31 is the 4-series convertible.

[amirz1000]

Originally Posted by aajami

This wouldn't be a public unveiling, just an internal presentation. The F80 has already been shown to select buyers outside of BMW, so now would be about the time that the F82 would start making the rounds internally at the company.

The 4-series coupe is the F32. The F31 is the 4-series convertible.

F31 would be the wagon. F33 would be convertible.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by amirz1000

F31 would be the wagon. F33 would be convertible.

Doh. I knew that.

Thanks for the correction.

[///Matthew]

1. Lift cover
2. Take pics
3. Profit

[amirz1000]

Here is a pic of the F32 so you can compare to the first pick above under the tarp. i think its spot on. the fact that it has quad exhaust and 275 rear tires says its an M. This is deff a F82 M4

[Wolf]

It looks like everybody has made peace with the new 4 series designation for the coupe I love it. Nice marketing strategy SCOTT!

[kbryce]

i wish everyone would stop calling this the "M4." at least until it's confirmed

[jaehshim]

Originally Posted by ///Matthew

1. Lift cover
2. Take pics
3. Profit

Thank you!
seriously people.. lol

[red-sauerkraut]

Add a massive amount of zippers and write M-POWER.COM all over the place.

[ATX78703]

funny that they're having some kind of internal reveal on a pre-pro M4 (which everyone seems to think this is, and I agree), when they haven't even revealed the 4 series.

Honestly, i'm more curious to see what the F32 4er looks like, b/c the M4 will be an aggressive take on the regular 4er. Once, we see the F32, we can more easily speculate what an F82 will look like.

[Mako]

what about the M235i? Just saw an article on 1ADDICTS that its pretty much confirmed that it is coming to the US in 2014, same year as the M3 is coming here (hopefully). Is this too big to be a 2 series?