BMW has just unveiled the latest Competition versions of the M3 Saloon and M4 Coupe, sporting new aesthetics, performance enhancements, and for the first time ever, a four-wheel drive option for each.
The new M (short for motorsport) cars arrive 35 years after the premiere of the first BMW M3, serving as the natural evolution of the intentionally high-performance model designed to “fuse track-focused performance with everyday usability.”
Occupying very different segments, the BMW M3 Competition Saloon and BMW M4 Competition Coupé both carry the new enlarged twin kidney grille that has now become the brand’s staple, supposedly inspired by classic BMWs—most notably the 328 model made between 1936 and 1940.
Everything in the exterior has been changed, save for the door panels and trunk lid. More pronounced creases and scalloping dress the hood, complemented by a beefier stance at the sides, courtesy of thicker flares and sideskirts. Both cars are wider than their outgoing versions—the M3 by almost 30mm and the M4 by almost 20mm. At the rear, a black rear diffuser lines the top of the trunk lid, while a quartet of chrome pipes—two on each side—jut out underneath. A carbon fiber roof lowers center of gravity while capping off the sporty aesthetic for both cars.
Inside, the M treatment imbues the cabin with M-colored stitching and M badging. The enhancements go beyond skin-deep, as some exclusive M functions are also onboard, namely, the M driving mode buttons that adapt the powertrain according to road conditions and driver preference. There’s also plenty of carbon fiber trims to go around—it’s on the center console, paddle shifters, and steering wheel. Carbon fiber is even available on the bucket seats as an option.
Buyers can opt to have their cabin in two-tone, with their choice of secondary color (black is the standard primary color). The M Sport seats com with LED M logos that light up when the car is switched on.
As for infotainment, BMW’s iDrive in-car operating system is standard, but with some added M features such as an M Drift Analyser and M Laptimer that come with the M Drive Professional suite specifically developed for track driving. The iDrive is housed in a large center touchscreen that also handles voice command and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections.
Both M3 and M4 Competition models are powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo 6-inline engine that produce 480hp and 650Nm of torque, an improvement of 60hp and 100Nm over the predecessor. Shifting is managed by an 8-speed automatic torque-converting gearbox, giving the M cars the ability to accelerate from 0-100kmph in 4secs, which is 0.1secs faster than the old models.
New for the first time in the M Competition line is the four-wheel drive system, which comes with a unique feature that allows drivers to decide how much power to send to the rear wheels. This feature, along with the M Drift Analyser, looks like BMW is trying to reel in more ‘drifters’ this time around.
Other chassis-related goodies include an adaptive suspension that can be switched between various soft and firm setups, six-piston calipers, carbon-ceramic brake disks, and an M Performance parts upgrade pack that improves the top speed for both cars by 40kmph—from 250kmph to 290kmph.
Speaking of the M Performance parts package, this one swaps the standards with a titanium exhaust, adjustable coilover suspension, a better set of alloy wheels, and carbon fiber and Alcantara interior trimmings.
The BMW M3 Competition Saloon and M4 Competition Coupe are on sale now in the UK, priced at GBP75,000 (approx. PHP4.6 million before taxes and fees) and GBP76,200 (PHP4.7 million), respectively and other markets are sure to follow.
We do have the standard M3 and M4 available locally. Check them out here on Carmudi.
Photo/s from BMW
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