Wild Rear Drive BMW M4 Competition Proves its Mettle

Though splendid to drive, this ‘Hulk Green’ M4 Competition probably has too much grunt for an RWD config. 

I must admit that I was a little confused by this car. I blame BMW’s press info around its launch for that. So much was made of the impending arrival of the new all-wheel drive BMW M3 and M4 Competition  that I really was fully expecting this car to boast all-wheel traction. In fact I even thought it was the AWD xDrive version. So I was surprised by the extent of traction control the first time I planted it. And shocked when the rear end lit up when I first expunged all the nannies.

Still Just the Rear Drive M4 Competition

There’s very good reason. This BMW M4 Competition is not the xDrive. It’s still the common garden rear-drive version. Suppose that expectation was heightened by the local PR office telling us how much they were looking forward to our views on the difference between this and the M3 4-door. Maybe I took it to mean they referring to the drive difference. They rather meant the between the coupé and the sedan…

So I was a little annoyed. More for my not knowing that the AWD car is only being released around now, than it not being what I expected. Point is I was not alone — there were a few of us under the same impression. Still, here’s the rear drive M4 Competition. What’s it like?

Technically Identical to M3 Competition

In essence this car is technically identical top the M3 Competition 4-door we tested a month or so ago. But it’s a completely different proposition as our PR pals suggested. Our antifreeze green test unit even more so — a bit like Kermit on heat. And that makes it a love it or hate it package. Hate it because it really brings out the Hulk-cross-Bugs Bunny front end look that so many complain of. Love it because you’re the arch extrovert. I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the talking!

Sleeker and lower, the coupe also seems longer and wider. But it’s not — it’s the same 189.1 inches long and 74.3” wide on an equal 112.5-inch wheelbase. The Coupé is however 1.6” lower at 54.8 inches tall and boasts a pair of sleek, long doors rather than four stubby ones. And all of that is a double-edged sword. It certainly does look more the part. But it’s even more difficult to get into than the M3 that was already a bit like a gym work-out to access and egress.