A pair of images of (what appears to be) the upcoming BMW 2 Series Coupe have been posted on a fanforum; considering the polarising styling of the Concept 4 (the precursor to the next 4 Series) and mixed reactionto the looks of the 2 Series Gran Coupe, the G42 should appease the Bimmer faithful.

Earlier this month, we published a clutch of speculative renderings of the new, rear-wheel-driveM2 Coupe – powered by a longitudinally-mounted 300-kW-plus3.0-litre straight-6. The images were shared withBMW BLOGby one of its readers,@zer.o.wt. Click here to read that article, which includes information of specifically the M2 model.

Now, a pair of revealing images have popped up on BMW enthusiast site 2addicts. Given the partially revealed car features an M badge on its front bumper as well as a nomenclature on its boot lid, we believe that this is a pre-production version of the G42; it is believed the images were taken (covertly) at BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Centre in Munich.

The 2nd-generation Series Coupé (codenamed the G42) is scheduled to go on sale next yearand, unlike the current1 Seriesand2 Series Gran Coupe (GC), which havetransverse engine layouts and arebased on BMW’s Front Architecture platform, the newcomer will adopt an evolution of the brand’sCluster Architecture (CLAR) platform and be closely based on theZ4 Roadster.

The M2 and its standard 2 Series Coupe siblings will be produced alongside the 3rd-generation Z4 at BMW’s factory in Leipzig, Germany. We think this M-liveried car might well be the M240i, which will offer 285 kW and 550 Nm if equipped with the M340i xDrive’s turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission.

Judging from the dramatic design cues of theConcept 4andConcept i4(backed up with the clues we've got from spy pictures of the former), we know that the upcoming 4 Series is most likely to sport some version of the concept cars' gargantuan upright double-kidney grille. Given that BMW has made it quite public that it wants to further differentiate between its rational and emotional models from an aesthetic point of view(like the 3 Series and the next 4 Series, for example) some expected the next 2 Series Coupe would also sport thatcontroversial large-nostrilled front styling treatment…

However, as we can see from these images, the G42-series’ front isn’t beaver-toothed (or bolt-upright), but simultaneously, it does not feature the2 Series GC's divisive broad kidney grille with 3-dimensional mesh either. In fact, although its headlight and grille treatment is admittedly not as stylised, the “next 2 Series Coupe” appears to have more of a Z4-like front visage.

The rear treatment makes it clear that the photographed car is a coupe, as a result of the steeper rake of the C-pillars – and an M-flavoured one, by virtue of the elaborate diffuser.

Interestingly, the LED tail-light clusters aren’t slim and elongated as on the 2 Series GC – or indeed the Z4 (on which the car is based), but decidedly chunky, with a distinctive horizontal-question mark lighting signature. A pronounced lip spoiler on the boot lid and pair of trapezoidal exhaust tips at the edge of the rear aproncomplete the look.

Does this sneak peek (who knows – perhaps BMW “leaked” it on purpose) mean that we may get a look at the production version of the car before the end of 2020 (ahead of a release in early 2021)? We'll have to wait and see, but as soon as we have more details, we’ll be sure to let you know…

Related content:

Next BMW M2 Coupe? Pick a colour

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (2020) International Launch Review

BMW M2 Competition Video Review

Mighty BMW M2 CS Coming to SA [w/Video]

New Toyota Supra vs BMW M2 Competition – Hot Lap Shootout

Drag Race: BMW M2 Competition vs Toyota Supra