This is BMW's first M4 in history. The spiritual successor to the iconic M3 Coupe not only gets a newly christened moniker, but a thorough overhaul both on and beneath the skin.
Essentially, it is the first turbocharged mid-sized coupe from BMW's M division. And with all other M cars (1M Coupe, M5, M6, etc) trailing the engine-downsizing trend, it means the revered and celebrated naturally aspirated engines are officially 'a thing of the past'.
And as with most 'force fed' progression, which does with less cylinders, the M4 has two fewer - ditching the V8 for an in-line six.Exterior
You can easily tell how the new car's looks have changed. The body has been stretched by as much as 56mm, with 65mm added to the width of the car. The new M4 sits 32mm lower than the M3 Coupe too. Front and rear tracks have also been lengthened significantly - by 33mm and 65mm respectively.
Essentially, it is the first turbocharged mid-sized coupe from BMW's M division. And with all other M cars (1M Coupe, M5, M6, etc) trailing the engine-downsizing trend, it means the revered and celebrated naturally aspirated engines are officially 'a thing of the past'.
And as with most 'force fed' progression, which does with less cylinders, the M4 has two fewer - ditching the V8 for an in-line six.Exterior
You can easily tell how the new car's looks have changed. The body has been stretched by as much as 56mm, with 65mm added to the width of the car. The new M4 sits 32mm lower than the M3 Coupe too. Front and rear tracks have also been lengthened significantly - by 33mm and 65mm respectively.
As a result, the M4 has a greater and more dynamic stance than the preceding E92 M3 Coupe, making the latter feel almost inert in comparison.
Interior
Compared to its sheet metal, the M4 has a more 'predictable' interior. 'Usual suspects' such as carbon fibre and aluminium-look bits are present throughout the 2+2 cabin to distinguish itself from the usual 4 Series as the 'go-faster' variant.
The dashboard also retains a driver-oriented slant posture - no doubt great to work with, but is starting to lose the sense of occasion and novelty. The other slight qualm we have is the lack of seat belt feeders.
However, like the 4 Series it is based on, the M4 boasts decent practicality, with proper seating for four on board and a functionally-sized boot. This means it can easily stack up as a daily runner for the family while fulfilling boy (or man) racers' dreams at the track on weekends.
Compared to its sheet metal, the M4 has a more 'predictable' interior. 'Usual suspects' such as carbon fibre and aluminium-look bits are present throughout the 2+2 cabin to distinguish itself from the usual 4 Series as the 'go-faster' variant.
The dashboard also retains a driver-oriented slant posture - no doubt great to work with, but is starting to lose the sense of occasion and novelty. The other slight qualm we have is the lack of seat belt feeders.
However, like the 4 Series it is based on, the M4 boasts decent practicality, with proper seating for four on board and a functionally-sized boot. This means it can easily stack up as a daily runner for the family while fulfilling boy (or man) racers' dreams at the track on weekends.
The Drive
Nested in the bucket-style, leather-clad seat and looking out of the windscreen, one of the first things that captures your attention is the bulge on the bonnet - as if it was there to hint at the potent performance that lies within.
Despite being smaller (in capacity) and with two fewer cylinders, the new 3.0-litre in-line six block churns out some impressive figures - 431bhp and 550Nm of torque.
The unit is based loosely on the 3.0-litre unit found throughout BMW's model range, with thorough revisions such as two bespoke mono scroll turbochargers, a forged crankshaft and a reworked cooling system.
Likewise, the DCT dual-clutch transmission is an evolution of those found in the M5 and the M6. Under hard throttling, shifts are executed in a seamless and lightning fast manner.
There is also the 'ripple' that it sends through the cabin with every cog swop, further enhancing the engaging experience, especially in manual mode.
At the helm, the M4 is razor sharp with a point-and-shoot kind of preciseness that makes it a delight to drive in any condition. Part credit goes to the collective effort of lightweight materials that has helped the M4 shed 100kg from its predecessor.
With just 1,572kg to lug, the 431 German horses make light work of hurling the coupe around. More specifically, it takes 4.1 seconds for it to blast from nought to 100km/h, beating the previous M3's timing by 0.5 of a second.
There is also the 'ripple' that it sends through the cabin with every cog swop, further enhancing the engaging experience, especially in manual mode.
At the helm, the M4 is razor sharp with a point-and-shoot kind of preciseness that makes it a delight to drive in any condition. Part credit goes to the collective effort of lightweight materials that has helped the M4 shed 100kg from its predecessor.
With just 1,572kg to lug, the 431 German horses make light work of hurling the coupe around. More specifically, it takes 4.1 seconds for it to blast from nought to 100km/h, beating the previous M3's timing by 0.5 of a second.
Three levels of individual setting for the steering, throttle response, suspension and gear shifts allow the M4's character to be varied - from a hot rod track weapon to a benign coupe good for groceries run (without breaking the eggs, that is).
And it is this variable drive setting that gives the M4 a more all-rounded appeal.
Conclusion
As with most recent cars, almost every aspect of the latest M4 has been touched by technology. While purists mark this as a departure from the original M (which comes with stick shift and naturally aspirated engines), we reckon the latest iteration is much more forgiving to drive, yet with a higher level of performance.
And there is no doubt that BMW has honed its latest mid-sized M coupe to be a sharper, more all-rounded track weapon that can be just as delightful to drive on a daily basis.
And it is this variable drive setting that gives the M4 a more all-rounded appeal.
Conclusion
As with most recent cars, almost every aspect of the latest M4 has been touched by technology. While purists mark this as a departure from the original M (which comes with stick shift and naturally aspirated engines), we reckon the latest iteration is much more forgiving to drive, yet with a higher level of performance.
And there is no doubt that BMW has honed its latest mid-sized M coupe to be a sharper, more all-rounded track weapon that can be just as delightful to drive on a daily basis.
