The BMW M3 saloon is...

The BMW M3 saloon is back! Hot on the heels of the coupé comes the four-door version of the fastest 3-Series. These are the first official pictures of the hot new M3 saloon, which is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in the spring.

The newcomer will go head-to-head with arch-rival Audi RS4. As with the coupé, the saloon has a number of distinctive M-car cues.

The aluminium bonnet is similar to the two-door’s and features a prominent power bulge, while there are chrome trimmed air vents in the front wings and aggressively styled bumpers are fitted front and rear. Wide 19-inch alloy wheels are squeezed under flared arches and four large exhaust pipes poke out at the rear.

The saloon shares the same running gear as the coupé. That means a powerful 414bhp 4.0-litre V8, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. As a result, the 0-62mph sprint takes 4.9 seconds, which is only a tenth of a second slower than the two-door. And this is despite the newcomer tipping the scales at 1,680kg, which is 25kg more than the coupé. The increase in weight means some chassis components have been optimised to ensure that the M3 still provides razor-sharp responses. However, the ride should be slightly softer, which is in keeping with the saloon’s more practical character.

Drivers can also tailor the handling using the hi-tech M Drive control. And for those who want to improve agility, the three-way select-able Electronic Damper Control will be an optional extra. But the M3 saloon isn’t all about performance, as the cabin has been tailored to give a more luxurious feel.

Leather is standard, and carbon or aluminium trim inserts can be specified. To separate it from the coupé, the saloon will also have an exclusive range of paint options. Prices have yet to be announced, but the M3 saloon should be around чЈ2,000 cheaper than the чЈ50,625 two-door.