3 x 4 (doors) M

Ahead of its Tokyo auto-show debut later this month, BMW has released photos of its ultra-sporty M3 sedan.

The M3 sedan takes the four-door body of the 3 Series and injects a healthy shot of performance-enhancing M.

Aside from the two extra doors, the sedan shares almost everything with the M3 coupe — including its high-revving 414-horsepower V8, performance-built body work and multi-spoke 18-inch wheels (19s optional).

The design cues include large front air ducts, a double-vented power-dome hood, flared fenders with signature M chrome gills, quad exhaust pipes, venturi tunnel, aerodynamic rearview mirrors, sculpted side skirts and a subtle trunk-lip spoiler.

Likely a cost-saving measure, the coupe's light-weight carbon-fiber roof does not carry over to the sedan.

Likely another cost-saving
measure, the coupe's headlights do carry over to the sedan, allowing BMW to produce just one front fascia for all M3 variants.

And what's the next M3 variant? Stay tuned to Autobahn Report for photos and info on the M3 convertible — complete with an industry-first carbon-fiber folding hard-top.