ONE look at the BMW M4 and it could be mistaken for a dressed-up 4 Series Coupe. But examine this latest evolution of the M3 Coupe more closely and you will notice it is an almost totally different car. The new nameplates for the 3 Series Sedan and 4 Series Coupe models have resulted in the M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe. But given that the M division modifies virtually every bit of the car, the link between the respective models is small.

For a start, only two body parts of the M4 have been carried over from the 4 Series - the doors and windows. Everything else is different, from the aluminium bonnet and front fenders, to the carbon fibre roof and boot lid, which has a subtle integrated ducktail spoiler.

This intense focus on shedding weight - the 1,500 kg M4 is 80 kg less than its predecessor - is done to enhance agility and controllability.