The comprehensive revision of BMW’s M4 was revealed this autumn, bringing the model to the fore as both a substitute for the old M3 coupe—86ed out of an emissions problem that demanded a very expensive redesign—and a 4-Series flagship.

BMW unveiled the Concept 4 about a year ago, and the 2021 4-Series Coupe hit the news in the late spring of this year, ahead of autumn or early winter deliveries. The M4 is the icing on the cake, though, and represents a thorough rethink that incorporates the new ‘butterfly’ grille design, aggressive body language that balances masculine and feminine lines very well indeed, a major structural overhaul, and of course a plush, daring, and tech-heavy cabin with performance features galore.

For 2021, the M4 receives the new BMW engine, and for such a performance car, that news gets top billing. BMW SUVs first received the super-efficient six-cylinder S58 motor in early 2019, but the M4 still carried the S55 until this year. In the M4 Competition, the twin-scroll turbo S58 brings 503 horsepower to the table, a substantial improvement over the outgoing M4 Competition’s 444. An 8-speed M Steptronic gearbox delivers the kinetics. The M4 Coupe receives a stick as standard and delivers an impressive 473 horses.

Inside the 2021 M4, M Sport seats come standard. Performance driver-oriented tech comes by way of the M Drive Performance package, a complex of software and track features.

The 2021 M4 Coupe and Competition will be in dealerships in the late winter or early spring. Pricing starts at $73K.