Leaked by a member of the GermanCarForum blog on Tuesday evening (December third), the detailed images of Munich’s highly awaited sports coupe standing in a workshop of sorts sees it featuring a gloss black take on the trademark kidney grilles, a carbon fibre roof, expansive side air ducts with a honeycomb mesh, a carbon fibre lip spoiler, gloss black mirrors, 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber, a subtle carbon fibre boot spoiler, gloss black diffuser, quad exhaust outlets and a small Competition badge on the bootlid.

Also snapped, the interior differs modestly from the regular M850i, in that it gets an M8 branded gear lever, carbon fibre inserts on the centre console, diamond quilted, two-tone sport seats with M8 embossed headrests and the same steering wheel as the M5 resplendent with the red M1 and M2 drive mode buttons.

Whereas the regular M8 is expected to come powered by the M5’s 441kW/750Nm 4.4-litre bi-turbo V8, the Competition, which was previewed to a select number of guests at the Paris Motor Show two months ago with an embargo placed on the release of details or pictures, will most likely be offered with the same displacement engine, albeit lifted from the M5 Competition that makes 460kW/750Nm.

Like the M5, the M8 will send its power to all four wheels via the eight-speed Steptronic gearbox, and while no performance figures have yet been divulged, chances are that it could potentially complete the 0-100km/h sprint in around three seconds.

According to reports, the Competition could debut at the same time as the regular M8, with both set to make their official unveilings at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year.