The 2021 BMW M3 and M4 have officially been unveiled and we now know the full details about BMW’s latest high-performance machines. While the car’s design isn’t surprising to us anymore at this point, its improved performance is still surprising nonetheless.
As mentioned in our prior article, the new M3 and M4 flaunt BMW’s latest interpretation of its kidney grille, albeit a controversial one. Flanking it are a pair of LED headlights as standard, though LED units with laser high beams are available as an option. As we move towards the sides of these two cars, things get a lot more conventional. The wheel arches are much wider compared to the standard 3 and 4 Series due to the wider track of these cars. There are also large side vents that draw air out of the front wheels. Moving towards the rear, and this is where we can truly see that the 2021 BMW M3 and M4 are much wider than the standard models. There are also four large tailpipes, a rear diffuser, and red reflectors mounted at the sides of the rear bumper.
Of course, as with most BMW M cars, the roof is made out of carbon fiber. Those who want even more carbon fiber on the exterior of the M3 or M4 can opt for the M Carbon exterior package. This package adds a number of carbon fiber exterior parts such as a rear lip spoiler, mirrors, and rear diffuser.
The interior is largely the same as the standard BMW 3 and 4 Series, though as mentioned in our prior article, BMW has added a number of details to make the interior feel more sporty. The changes include an M sports steering wheel, red engine start/stop button, and Aluminum Tetragon interior trims. Buyers can also opt for a carbon fiber interior package, which can also be extended into the steering wheel. As standard, the BMW M3 and M4 come with sport seats wrapped in fine-grain Merino Leather and is also available with seat cooling as an option. For even more sportiness, optional M Carbon Bucket Seats are also available. These seats are 9.5 kilograms lighter than the standard seats thanks to its carbon fiber construction. The seats themselves also feature more aggressive bolstering as well as an illuminated M3 or M4 logo. As for the infotainment, BMW’s iDrive 7 infotainment system with a 10.25-inch screen comes as standard, along with BMW’s 12.3-inch Live Cockpit Professional digital gauges.
The all-new 2021 BMW M3 and M4 is powered by a new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 gasoline engine that puts out 473 hp and 598 Nm of torque in standard form. This is the same engine that’s also being used in the X3 M and X4 M. On the other hand, the M3 and M4 Competition’s engine produces 503 hp and 650 Nm of torque. Zero to 100 kph in the M3 and M4 is achieved in just 4.1 seconds while the Competition variants are even faster to the century mark at 3.8 seconds.
A 6-speed manual will be standard, while an 8-speed automatic will be an optional extra, though we won’t be surprised if this will be the most popular transmission choice. However, due to the high-torque nature of the M3 and M4 Competition, only the 8-speed automatic will be available.
For the first time ever, the BMW M3 and M4 will be available in all-wheel drive (AWD), but only as an option for the Competition variants. The M xDrive system is similar to what the BMW M5 uses, which means it is rear-biased and features an Active M rear differential. Under normal circumstances, the AWD system only sends power to the rear wheels in order to maintain that signature BMW M driving experience. It’s only when the system thinks the car needs more traction that it starts to send power to the front wheels.
The M xDrive system has three different modes: 4WD (normal mode) 4WD Sport, and 2WD. 4WD Sport directs more power to the rear wheels than the standard mode and is designed for dynamic driving situations. 2WD basically sends all the power to the rear wheels and then switches off the traction control for those drifts and power slides that rear-wheel drive (RWD) BMW M cars are known for.
An Adaptive M suspension also comes as standard, along with an M-specific double-joint spring strut front suspension. The rear suspension, meanwhile, uses a five-link multilink suspension with wishbone control arms designed to provide better handling. Additionally, an optional M Drive Professional package with M Traction Control allows drivers to set the degree of system intervention for wheel slip. With 10 available settings, drivers can set a balance between doing drifts or going through corners in the fastest way possible.
Lastly, we also have to talk about the brakes. As standard, the new high-performance braking system features six-piston calipers with 380-mm discs up front and single-piston rear calipers with 370 mm discs. For even more stopping power, carbon ceramic brakes are also available. These features gold-painted calipers along with discs measuring 400 mm at the front and 380 mm at the rear.
The 2021 BMW M3 and BMW M4 will go on sale in early 2021, while we predict a Philippine launch may happen during late 2021 or early 2022.
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