As promised, the Bavarian manufacturer has released all-wheel drive versions of the BMW M3 and M4 Competition, and there’s more to this deal than just improved traction in corners. The extra grip also makes the new variants quicker off the mark.
Officially, the new BMW M3 and M4 Competition with M xDrive are capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in just 3,5 seconds, which is a 0,4 second improvement over the rear-driven variants. Power comes from the same 375 kW turbocharged straight six engine, paired with an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission.
The M xDrive system is fully variable and under normal conditions the drive power goes to the back axle, with the front wheels only brought in to play when traction starts becoming an issue.
There is a default 4WD setting as well as a 4WD Sport mode, which delays that feed to the front wheels somewhat. But if drifting is on the agenda, drivers can still switch over to the 2WD mode and deactivate the DSC system completely.
Buyers can also opt for an upgraded M Traction Control system, which can be finely adjusted through ten stages. Furthermore, the xDrive modes can be set and stored via the M1 and M2 configurations, which can be easily activated at the push of a button on the steering wheel.
Also fitted to the xDrive M3 and M4 Competition models is an Active M Differential, which allows for fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels as needed.
BMW has adapted the suspension geometry as well as the steering ratio to suit the new AWD configuration. The xDrive models roll on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, featuring a twin-spoke design and Jet Black Finish. Track tyres are an optional extra.
The new BMW M3 and M4 Competition models with xDrive are set to arrive in South African showrooms around the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing will be announced at a later stage, but expect to pay a premium over the respective R1.86 million and R1.94 million tags attached to the current rear-driven models.
