Strip through all the Safety Car disguise livery on this vehicle and what you're looking at here is our clearest peek yet at the incoming BMW M4. Yes, it has those kidney grilles on it... which is no surprise, given we know what the new 4 Series Coupe looks like.
4WD and autobox for M4?
Little technical detail has been divulged by BMW with this image release, so we are extrapolating from what brief nuggets we've been given before. The M4 will likely be powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine, as seen in the X3 M and X4 M, so something in the region of 510hp is not out of the question. It is also highly likely that it will have a four-wheel-drive system and bespoke automatic gearbox, as with the larger BMW M5.
Beyond that, we've been told that the M4 will make its world debut in the autumn, which is just around the corner, and that its provisional eco-figures read as follows: fuel economy is anything between 10.9 and 10.5 litres/100km (25.9-26.9mpg), while CO2 emissions are pegged at anything between 239- and 249g/km.
A prized M4
Further to this, MotoGP ride Miguel Oliveira has bagged himself one of the first production versions of the new M4, by winning the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria in Austria. BMW put an example of the performance coupe up as a prize for the eventual race victor and it was Oliveira who got over the line first.
Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW M, said: "Congratulations to Miguel Oliveira. A fantastic performance saw him outpace the fierce competition in the MotoGP race at the BMW M Grand Prix of Styria. As a long-standing partner of Dorna and title sponsor of the event, we are delighted to honour Miguel with the new BMW M4 as a reward for his victory. But he will have to wait a little while to drive his BMW M4 - the car is so new that it isn't actually on the market yet. However, we're confident that he will have a lot of fun with it - as the first test drive shortly after the race has already proved."
Oliveira himself added: "Wow, it's amazing. I'm over the moon to be the first MotoGP rider to receive such a special prize. I've got to know the new BMW M4 here at the Red Bull Ring and can't wait to have my one of my own. I'd like to thank BMW M for this fantastic prize."
M8 Safety Car
Not only was the concealed M4 Coupe on show at the MotoGP event, but BMW has a new M8 Competition Gran Coupe ready as a safety car too, which was presented at the Red Bull Ring race. It is the 22nd season that BMW has provided an M Safety Car for MotoGP.