BMW M4: A legend reborn (pictures)

The BMW M3 coupe is dead! Long live the M4!

The German giant has divided the M3 into two: one with four doors, one with two. The four-door version remains the M3 -- a car that many have lusted over for generations. The two-door has a new name. Meet the M4.

The M4 is, as you would expect, the fast version of the 4 Series Coupé.

The V-8 of the last generation of M3 has been dropped in favour of a turbo-charged six-cylinder engine.

The engine produces 425 brake horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque.

With a dual-clutch transmission it’ll hit 62 mph from rest in 4.1 seconds -- 4.3 with a manual.

It's 80kg lighter than the last generation M3 Coupe.

That front end is more aggressive than its ancestors.

Many BMW fans have expressed disappointment that the car of their dreams is no longer known as the M3.

Having a 4 Series to sit between 3 and 5 does now complete the run from 1 to 7.

It's easy to see why BMW has done this: the new naming convention is cleaner.

There is, of course, still an M3, this just isn't it.

The new engine doesn't deliver the same drama in the exhaust note department.

The best desctiption for the sound is "muted".

It drives as all BMW M cars should though.