BMW rolls out 2014 2-series, 2015 M3 sedan and 2015 M4 coupe at the Detroit auto show

BMW had a number of debuts at the Detroit auto show this year -- we got our first (official) looks at the 2014 2 Series coupe, 2015 M3 sedan and the 2014 M4 coupe on the show floor.

The electric i3 city car and its plug-in hybrid i8 supercar cousin were there as well, along with a massaged 2014 BMW Z4 convertible.

But let's take a closer look at the new stuff:

BMW
We should be seeing the 2014 BMW 2-series on dealer lots soon.

The 1-series is dead, long live the 1-series -- it's been reborn as the 2-series coupe, which is a little bigger than the car it replaces but keeps the rear-wheel drive, longitudinally-mounted engine configuration of its predecessor.

For now, it's available in two flavors: the 240 hp 228i, which starts at $33,025, and the 322 hp M235i. We already saw the latter car drifting around with nothing but a robot brain behind the wheel at CES; we're eager to see if we can best the computer. Look for it on dealer lots soon; BMW says it'll go on sale this quarter.

Will BMW create a four-door 2-series Gran Coupe? The automaker didn't say, but honestly, nothing would surprise us at this point.

BMW
The 2015 BMW M3 sedan gets a twin-turbocharged inline-six and manages to drop some weight.

The 2015 BMW M3 sedan marks a return to the classic longitudinal inline-six engine, rear-wheel drive formula that was temporarily forgotten during the fourth-generation M3's production run. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six its good for 425 hp between 5,500 and 7,300 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque between 1,850 and 5,500 rpm -- 11 hp and 110 lb-ft more than the old V8.

Purists can stick with the standard 6-speed manual transmission or opt for the seven-speed M dual clutch. As is increasingly the case, manual-buyers suffer a slight performance penalty: 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds as opposed to the dual-clutch's 3.9 seconds.

BMW notes that the engine is 22 lbs. lighter than the outgoing powerplant – not bad at all. It adds to a curb weight savings of 176 lbs compared with the old M3, which means that the car should tip the scales at around 3,362 lbs.

Outside, vents and spoilers abound. BMW assures us that the car's aerodynamic features, which start at the sculpted, intake-laden front fascia and continue all the way to the “Gurney spoiler” on the tail, are meant to help optimize performance on the track. No word on how they perform in gridlocked commuter traffic.

Expect the car to go on sale in May. Like the 3-series upon which it is based, the new M3 is now sedan-only, which brings us to…

BMW
The M3 coupe is no more, but that's okay -- the 2015 BMW M4 is here to pick up the slack.

Under its sleek two-door skin, the 2015 M4 coupe is the same as the 2015 M3. You'll get the same turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 and the same six-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch; even the 0 to 60 times are the same (3.9 seconds with the dual-clutch, 4.1 seconds for the manual).

The exterior gets a treatment similar to that of the M3 -- even a casual observer should be able to tell that the M4 means business. There's also an integrated lip spoiler at the back.

Like the M3 sedan, the M4 has slimmed down a bit compared to the M3 coupe it replaces. BMW claims a 3,300 lb curb weight, a reduction accomplished through increased use of carbon fiber (in the roof) and aluminum (in the hood).

The North American International Auto Show, known to most as the Detroit auto show, continues to serve as a barometer for the entire industry. This year, we'll expect to see the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the 2015 Ford Mustang and the BMW M3 and M4. The 2014 Detroit auto show is held at Cobo Hall in Detroit, MI and is open to the public from January 18-26.

By Graham Kozak