The Internet is abuzz with this photo which is doing the rounds. It looks a lot like the all-new BMW M3 has leaked early.

Appearing first on a tuner's page, this image has created quite the stir. We're not 100% sure if it's the real deal, but the hallmarks of an M car are there, such as the quad exhausts.

As far as powertrain goes, we areexpecting the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder, but with substantial revisions. Power and torque will increase, and to be fair they'll need to jump substantially to match its rival from AMG. Based on what the BMW X3 M and X4 M have to offer, it would be a surprise to see the new M3 powered by a different engine. In SUV guise, that powertrain delivers 375 kW and 600 Nm in its Competition spec.

There's an interesting school of thought doing the rounds which suggest that the xDrive all-wheel-drive system (like the BMW M5) will make its debut in the all-new BMW M3. This will upset many purists, but there's also news of a potential entry-level "Pure" model which will feature rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox.

Further Reading

The new BMW M340i: Your budget-friendly M3

Celebrating BMW M3 [with Easter Eggs & Videos]

Special-edition BMW M3s: The Ultimate List

The Next BMW M4: What It Could Look Like