After seemingly endless teasers and official spy photos, the 2021 BMW M3 sedan and M4 coupe have been revealed ahead of a first quarter 2021 Australian launch. A brand new 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine is available in two power forms, while both rear- and all-wheel drive will be available too. BMW has also confirmed that a six-speed manual will be offered, which is (unfortunately) a segment exclusive feature.
While styling is a subjective topic, it’s hard not to notice the new BMW snout on the front of both the M3 and M4. Doing away with the traditional BMW horizontal kidney grille like the regular 4 Series Coupe, the new nose is much bolder and taller than before. According to BMW, it “sends out a bolder statement than ever of the performance supremacy and emotionally engaging driving experience on offer.”
Several other M specific touches cover the M3 and M4, from the pumped up wheel arches, to the gills, the 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, subtle boot spoiler and even quad tailpipes, both cars clearly have performance in mind.
At the heart of both the M3 and M4 is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six engine, which makes 353kW of power and 550Nm of torque. Choosing the M3 and M4 Competition models increases these figures to 375kW and 650Nm. 0-100km/h is dealt with in 4.1 seconds – the Competition models improve this to just 3.9 seconds.
For the first time, and following in the footsteps of the larger M5, the Competition variants of the 2021 BMW M3 and M4 will be available with BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel drive system. Featuring a rear bias and a rear differential lock, drivers will be able to select a rear-wheel drive mode (only with the stability control turned off) for track use.
BMW’s new ‘M Drive Professional’ system debuts in the M3 and M4 and will give drivers more control in track driving. It includes the new ‘M Traction Control’, which allows the new integrated wheel slip limitation function of the stability system to be adjusted through 10 stages to the driver’s personal preferences and needs.
Other elements of M Drive Professional are the ‘M Drift Analyser’, which records and rates driving stats posted in dynamic cornering manoeuvres, and the ‘M Laptimer’, which supplies lap times and other information generated during track sessions.
Standard equipment for both the 2021 BMW M3 and M4 will be healthy, with equipment such as automatic front and rear braking, adaptive cruise control, steering and lane control assist, front and rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane change warning, auto parking with a 360-degree camera, a heads-up display, speed sign detection, tri-zone climate control, LED ambient lighting, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, digital dials and even BMW’s laser headlights will be standard.
Android Auto wirelessly joins Apple CarPlay in the centre screen, while a carbon fibre roof is also standard – though a steel roof with a sunroof is available as a no-cost option. 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels will be standard too, while optionally available will be an M Carbon exterior pack, seat ventilation, remote engine start and a M Race Track Package will be available for the first time, which reduces the car’s weight by around 25 kg thanks to ceramic brakes, light-alloy wheels and carbon fibre bucket seats.
BMW Australia has confirmed both the 2021 BMW M3 and M4 for local launch in the first quarter of 2021, with local spec and pricing to be confirmed before then.
Leave a Reply