The BMW M4 Coupé made its Middle East debut on Tuesday night at the showroom of the official BMW Group importer in Qatar, Alfardan Automobiles, ahead of its appearance as official safety car for the 2014 MotoGP.

The premier Grand Prix motorcycling racing event commences in Qatar, being held at Losail International Circuit from March 20 to 23.

The BMW M4 Coupé sees BMW M GmbH reveal a new interpretation of the high-performance sports car. It represents an ongoing commitment to the M philosophy, blending motorsport genes and uncompromised everyday usability within an emotionally rich overall concept. The M4 badge is also a reference to the new “4” model series that provides the basis for the new M model.

Axel Mittler, head of Co-operation MotoGP at BMW M GmbH, attended the launch event, sending a strong signal about how BMW Group views the Middle East’s importance to BMW M GmbH following an 11% sales growth achieved across the region in 2013. On a global level, BMW M GmbH also concluded 2013 with double-digit growth with the number of BMW M and BMW M Performance cars sold rising by 14%.

Johannes Seibert, managing director of BMW Group Middle East, said: “Middle East customers appreciate our BMW M vehicles; they place high value on their powerful performance, quick response and individual driving dynamics on the roads. With the support of our importer partners, we will continue to ensure that M remains the most powerful letter in the alphabet when it comes to sporting performance.”

Mittler said, “The BMW M4 takes motorsport technology from the track to the road and thousands of laps of the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife – the world’s most exacting race track – have readied the new models for that transition.”

Mohamed Kandeel, general manager of Alfardan Automobiles, said: “Having the start of such a global event taking place in Qatar is always an honour for the country and a  perfect platform for the M brand as it shares the same core values: dynamic, sporty, agile and high-performance.”

Under the bonnet of the new BMW M4 Coupé, BMW’s motorsport technology ensures that the new model raises the bar in performance both on and off the race track. The coupé is fitted with the high-revving six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology newly developed for the new BMW M4 Coupé. It produces a maximum output of 317kW/431hp with peak torque of 550Newton metres (406lb-ft) available across a wide rev band t. The BMW M4 Coupé covers the sprint from 0 to 100 kmph/62mph in 4.1 seconds (with the optional seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission).