The all-new 2021 BMW M4 was all the time going to get folks speaking. A supercar is only a pipe dream for many of us, however vehicles just like the M4 are attainable goals. When you can’t afford one now, you may be capable to once they hit the used market a few years down the line.

However there’s extra to the excitement over the 2021 M4 than that. First there’s that controversial new nostril, already seen on the common 4-series Coupe. And second, there’s an optionally available xDrive transmission coming mid-year. By no means earlier than has an M4 (or its M3 coupe predecessor) been outfitted with all-wheel drive. Don’t fret an excessive amount of although: the remainder of the bundle builds on final 12 months’s M4, however with extra energy, and extra angle.

We acquired an opportunity to drive the 503 hp rear-wheel drive M4 Competitors on each highway and observe. Right here’s why we predict it’s nice – and why it possibly simply falls shot of greatness.

The necessities: The BMW M4 is on sale now priced from $71,800 for the usual automobile, and $74,700 (£76,055 within the UK) for the extra highly effective Competitors.

---

It Has Road Presence

Say what you need about that new nose, however the brand new M4 is certainly going to show heads, if that’s your precedence. The outdated automobile’s hood bulge is gone, changed by a pair of what seem like vents however aren’t. And though the flanks are cleaner than earlier than, you continue to get swollen arches and the upward kick of the rear facet glass provides extra muscularity. Base vehicles run 18-inch entrance wheels and 19s on the again; Competitors vehicles include 19s and 20s. This automobile’s Sao Paulo yellow paint stands out, however it’s not that good.

Select From Large Energy And Greater Energy

The three.0-liter S58 straight six sends 473 hp to the rear wheels together with 406 lb ft (550 Nm) of torque, however the Competitors mannequin we drove improves these numbers to 503 hp and 479 lb ft (650 Nm).

That compares with 425 hp and 406 lb ft for the outdated M4 (or 444 hp for the Competitors selection) and 405 hp for the little M2, and makes the most recent M4 Comp outrageously speedy in nearly any scenario. There’s little or no turbo lag, and a lot mid-range torque that it’s simple to set the traction management mild strobing while you stand on the fuel, even on dry pavement.

Additionally Pushed: The 325HP 2021 Cadillac CT4-V Sports Sedan

BMW says the M4 will get to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and the Competitors in 3.8 seconds, in contrast with 4.3 seconds for the 382 hp all-wheel drive M440i. We ran just a few drag races with a PDK-equipped Porsche 992 Carrera (4.0 seconds), which left the rear-drive M4 standing for the primary 40 yards each time, however was quickly a spec within the BMW’s mirror because of the M4’s 124hp benefit.

The M3 And M4 Stay Hoon Machines At Coronary heart

When you reside within the snow belt, grew up with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles, or simply don’t like the concept of giving that 911 some 40 yards earlier than reeling him in, we will see why you could be tempted by the xDrive M4 coming later this 12 months, significantly since you’ll be capable to change to rear-wheel drive on the contact of a button.

However everybody else will likely be happy to know that the most recent M4 is as blissful to soften its rear rubber via a curve because the final one. Setting the again finish free is a cinch with all that torque readily available, and also you get an electronically managed rear differential as normal to handle it.

Spend an additional $900 on the M Drive Skilled choice and a drift analyser data the length, distance and angle of your slide. And for individuals who prefer to maintain issues neat, the identical choice’s M Laptimer helps maintain test of your greatest instances.

These Optionally available Sports activities Seats Will Spoil You Rotten

There’s completely nothing fallacious with the usual M4 sports activities seats, however when you’ve seen and sat within the optionally available carbon buckets, it’ll be laborious to accept much less. But when it makes you are feeling much less unhappy about not having the ability to afford the $3800 it prices to purchase them, you may prefer to know the raised carbon harness runner between your legs feels awkward.

It’s As Sensible As A Household Sedan

The M4’s 3-series origins are an enormous asset in case you’re on the lookout for one thing that’s each enjoyable and household pleasant. The trunk measures 15.5cu ft/440 liters, which is greater than 3 times what you get in a sports activities automobile just like the Porsche 911. And Whereas a Corvette presents almost as much trunk space, it solely seats two.

The M4 can also be considerably roomier than each the Nissan GT-R and its personal BMW M2 little brother. And in case you want much more practicality, there’s all the time the mechanically equivalent M3 sedan. Or higher nonetheless, for the first time, a Touring, although that gained’t be round for at the least one other 12 months and it won’t be coming to North America.

---

Twitchy Steering

When Ferrari switched to super-fast steering ratios a decade in the past we took each nook like we have been driving round The Pentagon till we acquired used to creating smaller wrists inputs. The brand new M4 feels equally unnatural on first acquaintance.

Its quick rack helps create the impression of a sharper turn-in to racetrack corners however it could possibly additionally really feel over mild and nervous, particularly in case you’re making an attempt to stability the automobile in a kind of 100-yard slides it begs you to drag off. It’s a lot much less of an issue out on the highway in actual situations, however nonetheless takes some getting used to.

It’s No Substitute For a Correct Sports activities Automotive

The M4 may speed up like a sports activities automobile, however throw stopping and steering into the combination and also you’re reminded of each its 3880 lb (1760 kg) weight and its sedan origins. Scorching lapping with the 911 we name-checked earlier, we discovered we couldn’t brake as late within the M4, or make its tires final as lengthy, and easily didn’t really feel as linked via the steering.

You Can’t Pair The Competitors With A Guide Field

It’s nice that you may nonetheless get a BMW M3 and M4 with a guide transmission, however not so nice that it solely comes with the bottom automobile. Step as much as the Competitors (the only version available in the UK) and you need to have an computerized. And it is an computerized, not a DCT. Meaning it has higher site visitors manners than the outdated M4’s twin-clutch, and is fairly swift going up the gears. Nevertheless it’s no match for a Porsche PDK on the way in which down.

Its Naturally Aspirated Ancestors Nonetheless Sounded Higher

The M4’s S58 sounds fairly fruity for a contemporary turbocharged engine, and US vehicles with out the sound-sapping OPF particulate filter on the automobile we drove ought to sound even higher. However in the case of sonic drama this S58 isn’t any match for the naturally aspirated 3.2-liter S54 straight six in the E46 M3 or 4.0-liter S65 V8 in the E92 model that adopted. However little is, lately.

Pushed: The 2021 Toyota GR Yaris Is A Great Hot Hatch, But We Do Have Some Gripes

A minimum of the tailpipes you see are correct exhaust pipes, and never simply pretend plastic finishers you see on so many efficiency vehicles and even supercars. However if you wish to make the M4 sound stronger try the optional M Performance exhaust that saves greater than 10lb/4.5kg and appears prefer it escaped from NASA’s R&D division.

The Verdict

Even some dedicated BMW followers are going to battle to look previous the controversial new face, and that’s a disgrace. As a result of behind it’s an M4 that’s quicker, extra agile and extra thrilling than the automobile it replaces, and one that also prices $40k lower than Nissan’s ageing GT-R.

It’s a disgrace you’ll be able to’t pair the Competitors engine with a guide transmission, and we want the steering felt rather less nervous, however in case you’re on the lookout for a efficiency automobile you should utilize 24-7, and that’s each roomier and extra speedy than BMW’s personal M2, the M4 ought to positively be in your checklist.