2021 BMW M4 - Driven
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BMW M4 - Driven
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Is there more to the BMW M4 than that big German nose that you can’t quit looking at?
The new BMW 4 Series, which was based on the BMW Concept 4, has been the victim of heavy criticism for some time now, and the M4 has fallen victim to the same big glass of hateraid. But, what sits behind that big, bulky, look-at-me nose is a humble powerhouse of performance that’s just as thrilling to drive as any other BMW on the market. After spending a week with the 2021 BMW M4 we can tell you that ugliness only runs skin deep, and you certainly shouldn’t judge a car by its face – this is our story with the new M4.
Latest BMW M4 news and reviews:
2022 BMW M4 GT3
BMW started to work on the new M4 GT3 pretty much in the same time with the new generation M4. But the race car went to its own process of development and testing. It all started back in 2019 with CFD computer simulations and continued in July, 2020 with the first real testing at BMW’s plant in Dingolfing. From there, lots of testing was made on race tracks around the world. After each testing the car was further optimized to make it ready for its racing career.
Finally, on June 26th, 2021 the M4 GT3 made its first race debut at season’s Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and from there will be heading to BMW M Motorsport teams for the 2022 racing season.
The M4 GT3 is priced at $530,000. An additional Competition Package adds another $55,000. The car can be raced in the GT Daytona and GT Daytona Pro classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Watch the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Sweat It Out Against The German Duo Of BMW M4 And Audi RS6
The folks at Carwow brought in three very different vehicles to the drag strip for a series of straight-line races. The face-off was between an Audi RS6, a BMW M4 Competition, and an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. All of them are some of the fastest vehicles in their respective niches. So, how do they fare against each other?
The BMW M4 CSL Could Make the M4 Competition Look Weak
The CSL moniker will be back with the latest, G82 generation, BMW M4. A prototype was spotted not long ago, with most of its camouflage taken off. It seems BMW is doing the same thing as Mercedes does with their upcoming SL., slowly uncovering parts of the car. The current M4 is already a very capable car with 473 horsepower (353 kilowatts) or 503 horsepower (375 kilowatts) in the M4 Competition. As before, the M4 CSL promises to turn things to 11. More carbon fiber and more power, 540 to be exact. And it will hit the ground through the rear wheels only.
BMW M’s First Official Drift Cars Put Down More Than 1,000 Horsepower!
A few months back, BMW revealed that its performance arm was dipping its toes in the drifting scene. The automaker was backing the Hountondji brothers who are famously known as the Red Bull Driftbrothers. BMW handed them two pre-production M4 Competitions eight weeks back, and the duo has now revealed the monsters. All the exact specs are yet to be revealed, but we do know that the cars make more than 1,000 ponies! The Hountondji brothers will take these cars to the 2021 season of the Drift Masters European Championship in Greinbach, Austria.
2022 BMW M4 Competition Convertible M xDrive
BMW recently updated its lineup for the 2022 model year. Apart from the refreshed existing models, the company also introduced the new M4 Convertible. The M4 Convertible comes with an all-wheel-drive system for the first time and receives power gains as well. The car has even lost its hard top in favor of a lighter, reinforced fabric soft top. Apart from the super long name - 2022 BMW M4 Competition Convertible with M xDrive – nothing else seems to be outrageously annoying.
2023 BMW M4 CS/CSL
We have reason to believe that BMW will offer a hardcore, lighter, and potentially more powerful version of the current M4 coupe. Firstly, the previous M4 was further distilled into such a variant and secondly, a set of spyshots sent in by our photographers shows a couple of interesting test mules.
Care to Know How the Drift Analyzer in the new BMW M3 and M4 Works?
BMW has taken some very controversial decisions in recent times, but the one we are talking about today will definitely be liked by BMW enthusiasts. The latest M3 and M4 models come with a drift mode. Having at least 480 horsepower, the BMW M3 and M4 are certainly capable of kicking the back end out, which is why the good people of BMW have given us the M Drift Analyzer. The YouTube channel “BMWBLOG” gives us a demonstration of this function.
Is The Old BMW M4 Better Than The New M4 And The New M440i?
Everything about the new M4 has been eclipsed by that monstrosity that BMW calls a grille. The car, otherwise, lacks nothing. The Competition trim makes well over 500 horses and is a big improvement over its predecessor. The folks at Carwow pit it against the old M4 and the current M440i in a fun inter-family battle. At the onset, the M440i doesn’t hold a candle against the two, but the all-wheel-drive system coupled with the launch control could bring in some spice to this triple threat match. Who are you rooting for?
BMW’s xDrive AWD System Makes the M3 and M4 Competition Faster Than You’d Expect
BMW just announced that as of this summer, the M3 and M4 can be configured with M xDrive, a souped-up version of the company’s hugely popular xDrive setup. With it comes more grip and more control in tight corners, but also a bump in performance.
Artist Creates the Mythical BMW M4 Shooting Brake and the M4 Gran Turismo With Perfection
BMW has no plans to build shooting brake and Gran Turismo versions of the M4, but that hasn’t stopped digital artist Sugar Design from imagining what they could look like if the German automaker put them to production. Designed with the familiar styling of a coupé with extended hatchback proportions, the M4 Shooting Brake looks like a car that BMW should build. The M4 Gran Turismo, however, looks like what you’d expect to see from the M3 Gran Turismo if that model ends up becoming a real thing.
There’s Actually a Good Reason BMW Doesn’t Offer a DCT in the M3 and M4
BMW has decided to use the ZF eight-speed torque-converter automatic instead of the DCT unit we are used to seeing on the previous generation M-cars. In this video, Karsten – the man in charge of M GmbH transmission design – explains the reasoning behind why a modern performance car like the BMW M3 or M4 would flourish with old-school transmission technology.
Watch the BMW M4 Competition Take On The Audi RS5 And The Mercedes-AMG C63 S
The rivalry between the three Germans can never end. Be it any segment or niche, they are waiting to rain on each other’s parades. This time, it’s on a drag strip, courtesy of Carwow. The Audi RS5, BMW M4 Competition, and the AMG C63 S competed against one another in a series of races to determine who the king is when it comes to straight-line dashes. Who have you got your money on?
This Shootout Between the BMW M4 and Porsche Cayman GT4 is Epic
Here’s How The Traction Control In the 2021 BMW M3 and M4 Works
From the M Drift Analyzer to the two brake settings and the second M mode further split into Road, Sport, and Track, the new BMW M3 and M4 are brimming with geeky tech meant to boost one thing and one thing only: the driver’s pleasure. At the same time, the traction control system developed by BMW M is a brand new concept that comes to improve on the old one used in the previous M3 and M4.
2021 BMW M4 - Driven
The new BMW 4 Series, which was based on the BMW Concept 4, has been the victim of heavy criticism for some time now, and the M4 has fallen victim to the same big glass of hateraid. But, what sits behind that big, bulky, look-at-me nose is a humble powerhouse of performance that’s just as thrilling to drive as any other BMW on the market. After spending a week with the 2021 BMW M4 we can tell you that ugliness only runs skin deep, and you certainly shouldn’t judge a car by its face – this is our story with the new M4.
The BMW M3 and M4’s Drift Analyzer Is The Coolest Useless Feature We’ve Ever Seen
2021 BMW M3 and M4 by Manhart
The new BMW M3 and M4 have just started arriving at the dealerships, but Manhart Performance is already developing its own versions of these beauties. The M3 and the M4 are under scrutiny for their kidney grilles, but there’s no denying that they’re an improvement in every aspect otherwise.
Will The BMW M4 CSL Bring Enough Fight To Combat the Porsche 911 GT3?
Now We’re Convinced That BMW Needs to Build an M4 Shooting Brake
We Bet You Didn’t Realize How Much Effort BMW Made to Make the M3 and M4 Sound Amazing
While BMW isn’t even thinking about dropping its current design approach (ahem, the bucktooth grille) on some of its sports car, Munich has been hard at work promoting the new M3/M4 via a mini-series of videos that focus on the performance sedan’s and coupe’s features.
This time around, we’re getting schooled on how and why the new M3 and M4 sound the way they do.
If You Don’t Like BMW’s Bucktooth Grille, That’s Okay - You Weren’t Going to Buy One Anyway
The latest BMW M3 and M4 are the most dynamic and powerful of their kind, but they also stand out due to their polarizing exterior designs. The huge kidney grille is the main culprit. While some BMW enthusiasts find it daring, others think that the German company ruined them. Some would rather have Chris Bangle back on the design team!
BMW is well aware that many do not like the new grille, but it doesn’t have a problem with all the criticism it’s getting on social media. Design boss Domagoi Dukec explains that the oversized kidney grille was created for customers that want to stand out. In short, if you don’t like, you weren’t among BMW’s targeted customers anyway.
There’s More to BMW’s New Kidney Grille Than Meets the Eye
By now, a lot of you have your opinions of BMW’s new — and very controversial — kidney grille. Seen in models like the M3 and M4, the front kidney grille is, for better or worse, a visual conversation starter. But as much as it captures our attention, very little has been said about the functions of the kidney grille and, more importantly, what you can find behind the new nose.
See, there’s more to the kidney grille than meets the eyes, and thanks to Bimmer’s new “M3 and M4 - Explained” web series, we get a peek behind the curtain, or, in this case, a peek behind the two kidney grilles.
The New Manual M4 Is Heavier, And We Blame That Ungodly Grille
When it’s not concocting videos of synthetically added Lamborghini V-10 sounds to its M2 sports car, BMW is hard at work educating the public on the new M3 and M4 performance brothers.
In a recent video posted by BMW M on YouTube, we get to find out that the current M4 fitted with a manual is heavier than the previous M4 fitted with the dual-clutch transmission.
Is This BMW M4 Slaughtered or Innovation At Its Finest?
BMW kind of broke the internet with the new M3 and M4. By slapping the sedan and coupe with the bucktooth grille introduced by the 4 Series, the Bavarians did enough to spark a lot of controversy among gearheads.
Since then, we’ve seen tuning companies trying to capitalize on BMW’s grille by offering kits that decrease those vertical kidneys to more eye-friendly proportions and even big-name designers giving their two cents on it. But maybe the problem wasn’t the grille, but the rest of the car. Maybe the M4 looks better with a more utilitarian vibe to it.
BMW Motorsport Recognizes M4 GT4 Success Story With Raft Of New Color Schemes
BMW’s Motorsport division has been building race cars for nearly five decades and the current M4 GT4 is undoubtedly one of the all-time stars. Bagging titles all over the world including in Europe, North-America, and Asia, the M4 GT4 is now approaching the end of its third full season of active competition and BMW has decided to mark the occasion by creating a raft of new liveries for the 450-horsepower race car based on the F82-generation M4 Coupe.
Here’s the BMW M3 and M4 Redesigned Yet Again - Maybe BMW Should Listen
The latest BMW M3 and M4 sports compacts are the most powerful of their kind, but they’re also highly controversial due to a single design feature: the kidney grille. Not just wider than before, the grille also extends all the way to the bottom of the front fascia. This design cue alone makes the M3 and M4 looks significantly different than their predecessor, despite the rest of the car many of the old features. American car design Chip Foose also thinks that the M3 and M4 look a bit strange, so he did his own version of BMW’s new kidney grille.
Sing Praise to Prior Design As They Fix the BMW M4’s Grille
It’s safe to say that BMW’s new take on the front grille for the 4 Series, M3, and M4 has rapidly split its fan base in two camps. Even we raised a lot of eyebrows while looking at the press photos but a recent first contact review with the 4 Series taught us that the loathed grille looks a lot better in the metal.
Still, this aspect hasn’t stopped Prior Design from developing a fix for those wanting a more traditional grille approach on their M4.
2021 BMW M4 Competition x Kith
Not one to be in the dark in the world of fashion, BMW has launched a collaboration with New York-based fashion and lifestyle brand Kith to create a limited edition version of the 2021 BMW M4 Competition.
Called the M4 Competition x Kith, the special edition performance coupe comes with a host of exclusive features and details that highlights the partnership between the German automaker and the American lifestyle brand. The M4 Competition x Kith is limited to just 150 units, all of which are earmarked for the global market. Each unit comes with a starting price of $110,000.
BMW’s New Kidney Grille Doesn’t Look as Bad on the All-New M4 As We Thought
The 2021 BMW M4 has arrived, and, as expected, it has brought BMW’s new — and controversial — kidney grille with it. But while most, us included, have been quick to lampoon the oversized grille, Bimmer has been hard at work trying to make it look presentable. Well, the new M4 is here, equally new kidney grille-included, and while it looks as polarizing as we expected it to be, it doesn’t look as bad as we thought it would be. It’s still going to take some getting used to, and we suspect it’ll take a long time for some people, but the good news is that the oversized kidney grille doesn’t ruin the overall visual integrity of the new M4 — and the new M3, for that matter. Bimmer’s new sports coupe still looks as ravishing as ever, and it helps, too, that every other aspect of the coupe remains true to its incomparable performance roots.
Manhart MH4 GTR One-Off
BMW’s M4 DTM Champion Edition is a rare breed of a car. Introduced in 2006 to celebrate Marco Wittmann’s DTM championship win, the M4 DTM Champion Edition was as incredible as it was limited. Only 200 examples exist, but all 200 were developed not only to look more aggressive than the previous-generation M4 but, more importantly, to be much more powerful.
The 493-horsepower M4 DTM Champion Edition was a beast, but even beasts can grow bigger claws. That’s where Manhart Racing comes into the fold. The German tuner known for its impressive programs for BMW models has prepared a tuning program for the special edition M4. The kit includes new wheels, interior upgrades, and, of course, a software tune to the coupe’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine.
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You’ll Crave the Normal Kidney Grille After Seeing This Render of the BMW M4
The new-generation BMW M4 arrived with many firsts for the nameplate. It generates more than 500 horsepower in Competition trim, it’s available with ventilated seats, and it can also be fitted with an all-wheel-drive system. But it’s also the first of its kind to feature a massive kidney grille that stretches over the entire height of the front fascia, a design feature that’s controversial, to say the least. Not a fan of the new grille? Well, here’s how the new-generation M4 looks like with a regular grille from the standard 3 Series.
M Performance Parts for the BMW M3 and BMW M4 Take Extreme Even Further
The M3 and M4 cats are out of the bag. Both of them get a twin-turbo inline-six first introduced by the X3 and X4 M crossovers and both can deliver up to 503 horsepower in Competition trim. Standard stuff aside, BMW is letting customers spice up its polarizing coupe and sedan with a long list of M Performance bits and bobs.
The 2021 BMW M3 and M4 Prove That More Power Doesn’t Mean More Speed
The much-awaited 2021 BMW M3 and 2021 BMW M4 are out of the bag and aimed directly at the Mercedes-AMG C63 sedan and coupe. Affalterbach’s heavy hitters offer ridiculous levels of performance thanks to a beautifully engineered V-8, but the Bavarians look ready to hit back with a souped-up inline-six mill, just like the previous generation, only with more more yet similar performance.
The BMW M3 And M4 Can Finally Be Optioned With AWD
All-wheel drive has come a long way since its inception. In fact, it evolved to such an extent that it has become synonymous with performance, be it delivered by a supercar, sports car, or hypercar. BMW’s own stable is a good place to observe how AWD is trickling down Munich’s performance lineup. After the current M5, the new M3 and M4 also get the M xDrive treatment.
2021 BMW M4 Competition
The 2021 BMW M4 Competition is a higher-performance version of the second-generation M4. A successor to the old M4 Competition, this nameplate is no longer a limited-edition model, but it has been included in the lineup alongside the regular M4. BMW is pretty adopting the same strategy as Mercedes-Benz, which offers two power versions of the C 63 S Coupe. An evolutionary design of the previous model on the outside, the 2021 M4 Competition introduces a new, massive front kidney grille and a twin-turbo inline-six engine rated at an impressive 503 horsepower. Not just the most powerful M4 ever built, surpassing the old M4 GTS, the 2021 M4 Competition is also the first M4 model to feature an all-wheel-drive system.
The 2021 BMW M4 Goes AWD, Packs Up to 503 Horsepower And Massive Grille
The second-generation BMW M4, the coupe version of the M3, just debuted for the 2021 model year. As previewed by spy shots of camouflaged or even camo-free prototypes, the high-performance two-door features a pair of oversized kidney grilles in the front, a significant change compared to the outgoing model.
But the 2021 BMW M4 brings other premiers to the nameplate. It’s the first of its kind to be offered in two power stages, as well as the first M4 available with an optional xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Previously a mid-cycle update, the M4 Competition is now part of the M4 lineup as a range-topping model. Rated at 503 horsepower, it’s the most powerful M4 ever built.
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Check Out These Spy Shots for the Next-Gen BMW M4 GTS!
BMW has yet to introduce the next-generation M4, but it’s already working on a beefed-up version of the upcoming coupe. Our paparazzi just sent us a couple of photos showing a camouflaged BMW M4 that looks notably different than the production model that will debut later this year. Specifically, it features a center-mounted exhaust system and, more importantly, a rear wing. This can only mean one thing: we’re looking at the upcoming BMW M4 GTS.
BMW M4 Coupe and GT3 Teased - Is The M4 GT3 The Definition of Ugly?
The 2021 BMW M4 is coming, and BMW is giving us a sneak peek on what we can expect from the new model when it arrives in September. We’ve only seen the new M4 in heavy camo, but a fresh batch of photos taken from the Red Bull Ring during the Moto GP round in Austria shows the new M4 — and the M4 GT3 — clad in what can only be described as loose clothing.
A New Leaked Image Reveals That The 2021 BMW M4 Will Somehow Be Uglier Than the Base Model
Outside of the various spy shots of the BMW M4 (they were confirmed to be legitimate by BMW, by the way) the 2021 BMW M4 has been a well-kept secret. We knew it would have the big grille, especially after the 4 Series made its debut earlier this week, but we were expecting the M4 to be a little more aggressive than the M440i. Sadly, that’s not the case and, to be honest, the M4 is apparently aiming to show that BMW’s new look can get even uglier. These really are interesting times that we’re living in.
Tuned Toyota Supra Vs BMW M4: Which One Wins the Drag Race?
Look what Carwow has for us today; a BMW M4 and a BMW Supra. Sorry, Toyota Supra. The Supra was revived last year but it has received polarizing opinions. On paper, the M4 is a more powerful car, so these folks use a tuned version of the Toyota Supra that makes almost the same horses as the M4, but a lot more torque. Going purely by specs, the Supra should be winning, but does the M4 have what it takes to beat the Japanese-German wunderkind?
Unlike the BMW M3, which just arrived in sixth-generation (G80) form, the BMW M4 comes from a family tree that goes all the way back to…2014. The first-generation F82 M4 arrived only six years ago, and while it has made a name for itself in the premium luxury coupe segment, it was evident that the F82 needed to give way to its successor. Enter the all-new, second-generation BMW M4 (G82). The hype surrounding the 2021 M4 G82 didn’t come without any trepidation, thanks in large part to the polarizing kidney grille that it now shares with a lot of Bimmer’s more recent models. But don’t get bogged down by that detail because the G82 M4 has plenty to offer. It comes in two forms like its predecessor — base and Competition — and it’s available with features and options (all-wheel-drive on the M4 Competition) that should make the next-gen coupe a strong challenger in its segment for years to come.
Drag Race: Old BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG Meet New M4 and AMG C63
Carwow’s back at drag racing cars with another special episode. This time, Mat Watson takes the current BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63 and pits them against the BMW E90 M3 and Mercedes-Benz W204 C63 AMG. As a bonus, the Lexus RC F Track Edition joins this German-only affair. Here’s how it all went down.
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2021 BMW M4 Convertible
The 2021 BMW M4 Convertible is the upcoming, next-generation version of the company’s beefed-up compact drop-top. Set to be unveiled alongside the Coupe, the 2021 M4 Convertible will share almost all exterior features with the hard-top model, save for changes necessary to accommodate a folding roof.
Likely based on the BMW Concept 4, the 2021 M4 Convertible will probably feature the massive front grille seen on the show car. Like most recent M-badged models, the 2021 M4 Convertible will most likely arrive with two engine options, with the more powerful version called M4 Competition. Let’s find out more about the upcoming convertible in the speculative review below.
2021 BMW M3/M4: All You Need to Know
BMW confirmed that the next-generation G80 M3 and G82 M4 will see daylight in 2020, but hasn’t offered an exact launch date. Some say it could happen at the Geneva Motor Show, while some say a mid-2020 debut is also quite likely, but then it should entail a private, BMW-centric event of sorts. Or maybe the Goodwood Festival of Speed, then? Either way, sales will kick off in early 2021.
As usual, there’s a lot of stuff we don’t know about the incoming BMW M3/M4 duo, such as price, the said launch date, and, most importantly, performance figures. So we focused on what we know about the new M3 and M4 and what we expect BMW to offer for the two.
The Future of the BMW M3, M4, M5 and 1 Series Have Been Called Into Question
BMW M3 and M4 Leaks are Real, But Both Models Are Far From Making Their Debut
Remember those leaked images of the BMW M3 and M4 that we saw on the production line last week? Well, BMW M President, Markus Flasch, has confirmed that they were legitimate and that they were, indeed, pre-production models. However, he also went on to say that there’s more than a year to wait before they go on sale.
2019 BMW M4 Heritage Edition
As BMW prepares to give the current-generation M4 its proper swan song, the German automaker is rolling out what is probably one of the last special edition models of the F82-generation M4. It’s called the BMW M4 Heritage Edition, and while it’s offered exclusively as a coupe — the M4 Convertible doesn’t get any love — the Heritage Edition exudes all the qualities you’d want from a proper M4, right down to all the M-spec goodies included in the exterior and interior of the special edition M4. Only 750 units of the BMW M4 Heritage will be made. It’s tabbed as a global model so the U.S. market is expected to receive a healthy share of the allocation. There’s no word on how many will make it stateside — or how much each unit is going to cost — but we should expect more details on that front to arrive before production starts at the end of the year. If the M4 Heritage Edition ends up being the last special edition model that’s based on the F82-generation M4 Coupe, then consider it a proper send-off.
Sterckenn’s Carbon Fiber Aero Parts Will Style Up Your BMW
Getting the right mix when it comes to tuning your car shouldn’t be regarded superficially. We mean, there are, and there will be a lot of bad examples of tuning exercises that rather destroy a car’s general appearance instead of boosting it, so you really don’t want to be that guy. Luckily, with companies such as Europe-based Sterckenn, pimping out your ride doesn’t have to turn into a full-on ricer job. In fact, their aero parts are so discrete that the rest of the car will stand out once you’ve fitted them in.
BMW’s New S58 Engine from the 2020 BMW X3 M and X4 M Will Eventually Power the Next-Gen M2, M3, and M4
The first-ever M versions of the X3 and X4 broke cover somewhat unexpectedly in February 2019, joining the larger X5 M and X6 Mto complete BMW’s four-vehicle lineup of beefed-up SUVs. And, while the X3 M, the first of its kind in 16 years, is big news, there’s even bigger news under its hood, where BMW dropped a brand-new high-performance engine. It’s called the S58 and replaces the already iconic S55.
Quick Comparo: Is the Lexus RC F Track Edition better than the BMW M4 GTS?
The Lexus RC has been around since 2014 and the Japanese luxury firm finally designed a track-prepped version. It’s called the RC F Track Edition and it’s more than an accessories package. But is it really a track-ready sports car, a coupe that can give the likes of the BMW M4 GTS a run for its money? Let’s find out in the quick comparo below.
Watch a BMW M3 Competition Take On a BMW M4 CS
The Next-Gen BMW M4 Will be a "Fortress of Manual" and Will Have AWD
Speculation that the next BMW M3 and M4 would not come with a manual transmission has been dispelled. Both upcoming Motorsport versions of the
and 4-Series models will indeed have a six-speed stick shift, and they will even offer the option of all-wheel drive.
Top 10 Most Blasphemous Models To Turn Into An EV
The world of EVs is ever growing, and as we near a time when there will be no gas to fill our tanks, we realized some of the world’s best-sounding and glorious engines will have to be ditched in favor of electric power. Think of an electric Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, or Lamborghini... does it sound good? Or rather, does it make any sound at all?
With the advent of electrification in the business of car building, you see every major manufacturer scramble to put together a lineup of eco-friendly electric vehicles as a statement of their forward-thinking plans and their bias towards the future of mobility. It all looked foolish almost 20 years ago when Honda introduced the original hybrid Insight, which was shortly followed by Toyota’s Prius, but today, this seems to be the trend that will sell. For some, it might be a marketing ploy to appease a new section of the market, but you can’t dismiss the trend altogether.
Audi just took the wraps off its first fully-electric car, the E-Tron. Mercedes was doing the same just a few weeks ago with its EQC, and just about any manufacturer you can think of has a mid- to long-term plan for at least hybrid, if not electric. For instance, Aston-Martin is looking forward to the year 2030, by which time the British manufacturer’s stable should be made up exclusively of electric cars. Ferrari, well-known for their devotion to making their cars sound perfect, is planning a 60 percent hybridization of its lineup in just four year’s time. You can imagine a Ferrari EV isn’t that far off in the future, then.
All this got us thinking - which cars would you never want to see without a growling V-8, or maybe a high-revving V-12 under the hood? Which car’s move from gas to electric sounds like blasphemy to you? We know there is a Mustang-inspired sports utility vehicle coming from Ford in 2020, and the pony car itself might go electric in the future, so how does that make you feel?
Read on to learn about our top 10 cars that would be blasphemous to turn into EVs.
Why Did we Just Spy the BMW M4 GTS on the Nurburgring?
When BMW updated the M4 for the 2018 model year, output was increased by a measly six horsepower to a new total of 431 horses, and it looks like the Germans could make up for that with a more extreme version of theM4 GTS. Our paparazzi spotted a new GTS prototype on the Nurburgring, and it looks as if BMW built a more aggressive aerodynamic package.
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Video of the Day: BMW Wants to Show You How to Use a Dual-Clutch Transmission
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding dual-clutch transmissions. It’s only to be expected considering it’s a relatively new technology. The truth is, the DCT isn’t really an automatic transmission, and it isn’t really a manual transmission either. It’s a blend between the two. Sure, there’s no clutch pedal but, in fairness, some models don’t have a real “park” position either. As far as BMW’s DCT goes, it’s one of those that doesn’t have a park position, but it doesn’t use a torque converter like traditional automatic transmission either. And, that’s where the confusion comes in. See, BMW’s DCT doesn’t even start rolling right away as an automatic would. It has what the brand refers to as low-speed assist, which means that you tap the gas and it creeps along at a couple of miles per hour. If you come to a stop and let off the gas, it will simply sit there in a neutral-like state. Furthermore, the transmission will automatically shift into “park” when the engine is shut off.
I know, that description doesn’t really help the confusion, does it? Well, lucky for you, BMW has put together a video to help you understand just how well it works. Unfortunately, the man in front of the camera isn’t speaking English, so you’ll have to read subtitles, but that’s okay because it’s certainly worth the read. Check it out and let us know what you think!
2018 BMW M4 Convertible Edition 30 Jahre
Back in 1988, BMW decided to chop off the roof of a BMW M3. Unthinkable at that time, the decision turned out to be a good one for Bimmer because 30 years later, it’s actually celebrating that decision with the launch of the BMW M4 Convertible Edition 30 Jahre. The M4 Convertible 30 Jahre follows a long line of models that have been given the “Jahre” treatment. For those who don’t know, “Jahre” is a German word that means “years” in English. In BMW’s case, it’s made a habit of releasing special editions of models celebrating their 30th anniversary, or as it likes to call them, 30 Jahre. The M5 got one in 2014. The M6 got one in 2016. Most recently, the 7 Series got the 30 Jahre treatment last year. Now it’s the BMW M4 Convertible’s turn, which itself is odd because the 4 Series didn’t come to existence until 2013 when it was packaged as the coupé and convertible versions of the 3 Series. Follow that thought, and you’ll realize that the M4 Convertible Edition 30 Jahre is actually a 30th-anniversary tribute to the M3 Convertible.
Bad News for BMW purists: Next M3 and M4 Could Go AWD
First introduced in 1985, the BMW M3 quickly became known as "the ultimate driving machine." The German brand exploited the term for more than three decades now, but a lot of BMW enthusiasts agree that the newer M3 and M4 are no longer the driver’s car that the first generation cars used to be, mostly due to being loaded with too much technology and driver aids. Whether this is true or not is a matter of how you look at modern sports cars, but old-school gearheads won’t be happy to learn that the next-generation M3 and M4 could go all-wheel-drive.
The news comes from Car Magazine, which claims that the M3 is set to take the same path as the M5, which was recently unveiled with standard all-wheel-drive. Since the M3 and M4 share the same underpinnings, the two-door coupe will also distribute power to all corners. As BMW pointed it out a few months back, the new-generation M5 was first engineered as a traditional, RWD sedan. But the company soon realized that the M5 didn’t handle longitudinal acceleration, and it decided to go with an all-wheel-drive layout. With the next-generation M3 looking to push the envelope well beyond that of the current model, AWD is likely to become a viable option for the compact too.
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