In accordance with remarks made last year by the marque’s Head of Development, Klaus Fröhlich, the British publication reports that the G80 will indeed keep its rear-wheel drive layout, but will have the option of xDrive all-wheel drive like the M5, with the sole transmission option being the eight-speed Steptronic.

It however claims that both models will offer a so-called Pure version that will not only be rear-wheel drive, but forego the auto ‘box for a six-speed manual, reaffirming remarks made by company CEO Harald Krüger that a three-pedal layout will be kept despite its relative minor uptake compared to the previous seven-speed M DCT.

Said to feature a number of subtle exterior differences versus the regular M3/M4, the Pure will also get bespoke interior fittings and colours. Like the standard model, power for the Pure will come from the carried over M3/M4’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six, but with power reduced to the 338kW from the now claimed 353kW due to the manual transmission being unable to cope with more than 680Nm set to be exceeded by the automatic.

Later on, BMW will also introduce the Competition Pack (CP) that will pack the same S58 internally designated straight-six as the forthcoming X3 and X4 M, which, with the help of water-injection, will produce in the region of 368kW. An M4 CP is slated to arrive in 2021 with a CS and CSL a further possibility, the former expected to produce 395kW and the latter around 410kW.

NOTE: F80 BMW M3 CS pictured