BMW M4 Competition xDrive laps the ‘ring faster than M5 CS

In August 2021, the Sport Auto team set a blistering lap time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a G82 BMW M4 Competition.

The rear-wheel drive coupé set an impressive time of 7 minutes and 30,79 seconds. There was a general feeling amongst petrolheads, though, that the M4 could set a faster time around the legendary circuit…

And so, eight months later, the Sport Auto team is back and this time with an xDrive variant of the M4 Competition. Channelling 375 kW and 650 N.m to all four wheels, is the added traction enough to offset the additional 75 kg of the AWD system, too?

Having set a time of 7 minutes and 28,57 seconds, it most certainly is – a whopping two seconds faster than its RWD sibling. It’s worth noting, too, that both cars were wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, and of course naturally, the AWD model managed to keep things a little tidier in the corners. This time is in fact quicker than that of the monstrous BMW M5 CS which managed a time of 7 minutes and 29,5 seconds.

A more hardcore version of the BMW M4 is expected later this year with rumours suggesting that it might be the next CSL model. It’ll almost certainly be lighter than the M4 Competition, as well as more powerful, but will only send its power to the rear wheels.

We wait with baited breath, then to see if it has what it takes to dethrone the grippy M4 Competition xDrive at the Nürburgring…