This summer the Bayerische Motoren Werke will continue to relentlessly move forward in search of speed with its M3 and M4 adding all-wheel drive to its offerings with the M3 Competition Sedan with M xDrive i M4 Competition Coupé with M xDrive models. I don’t know who he’s going for. When has a sports coupe ever benefited from the addition of two more drive wheels? In addition to being more complex, an AWD system makes steering inputs difficult, weight increases, and price increases. It’s not a rally car, it’s a sports car with little track orientation. Does not make sense.
While the competition is in their name, these cars are not really built for any class and do not compete anywhere. Sure, there’s an M4 GT4 homologation car, but it sure doesn’t have all-wheel drive.
BMW claims that the M xDrive system “allows the driver to experience an intoxicating interpretation of M’s performance characteristics that are reflected, among other things, in an even faster acceleration. ”This salad word boils down to the typical German-ism of“ dynamism, ”meaning makes computer things you don’t understand to make you feel like you’re going faster.
Speaking of dynamism, here’s something directly from BMW’s press release that makes a ridiculous copy: “The improvements in traction, handling stability, agility and dynamism brought about by the combination of M xDrive and Active M Differential also translates into a higher speed. What could this mean? Okay, traction is easy, safe, when the rear wheels are overtaken by the 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of 3-liter turbocharged torque in line six, the front wheels are introduced and provide a forward motion instead of the smoke from the tires. By manipulating stability, I guess it means the car is easier to judge where it will go to the limit, as the front wheels can get you around the corner if you have too much oversteer. More agile, despite the added weight? I would love to see that one. And we have already covered the dynamism.
Either the M3 or M4 version of this new car is 0.4 seconds away from the shared one 0-60 times, now they need 3.5 seconds instead of 3.9 seconds. The average driver would never notice the difference and it doesn’t matter anyway, but I guess that’s something.
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The xDrive variants are visually indistinguishable from their RWD counterparts, sharing the same 19/20-inch stepped wheel configuration. There are three different selectables AWD system configuration, which allows for a normal AWD, a more sporty track-oriented AWD, and 2WD, which disconnects the front wheels if desired. Why not buy the AWD car and put it in 2WD mode? This is useless.
This nonsensical car will cost you $ 77,895 for the M3 Competition Sedan with M xDrive, while the M4 Competition Coupé with M xDrive will have $ 79,795. In either case, the AWD system has a $ 4,100 price premium over standard competition models. Both will hit Bimmer dealers in August.
Then a Porsche 911 GT3 RS with track-oriented all-wheel drive? Sir, I hope not.