The BMW M4 is proving to be one of the most interesting sports cars of its generation, completely diverging from everything that people expect from a relatively small M car. Not only is the styling divisive, but for the first time, you can have your M3 or M4 with all-wheel-drive.

Despite causing controversy, we love the M4, and those who understand motorsport love it too. BMW's first drifting team, the Driftbrothers, has commented on how much like a racing car the standard M4 already is, but is there any substance to that claim? Well, according to the people who built it and compared the regular M4 to its GT3 sibling, the answer is yes.

The first likeness is in the design of the front of both cars, as each wears that massive grille. The M4 GT3 does have some enhancements though. The grilles have the same outer dimensions but the interior has been opened up to allow even more air in. The air curtains in the front fascia on the roadgoing version have also seen the addition of new corner lights to better help with nighttime visibility while also drawing attention to that design flourish on the regular car. The roof of the GT3 car, as well as its steeply raked rear window, are identical to those of the standard car too. M4 Competition exterior designer Anne Forschner says, "All BMW M cars have a polarising effect, which means they do not automatically appeal to everyone. Their impact on people is both physical and emotional."

The biggest difference is arguably at the rear, where the car is almost six inches wider. However, the taillights and the rear contour of the trunk lid are once again carried over from the production vehicle. On balance, the similarities are few, but this video is part of a series and will be followed by others that will discuss the engine and other areas. It's all part of drawing attention to both the new M4 and the GT3 model, which is currently undergoing its final year of development before it competes in various races around the world from next year.