Wild Rear Drive BMW M4 Competition Proves its Mettle
Likes to be Steered by the Throttle
Feed the power in gently, learn what it wants and get braver as you gain confidence and knowledge. Soon you understand that M4 Competition likes to be steered by the throttle. Kept just below the threshold its splendid. Calling the rear end lively is however an understatement — be ready to catch the rear end breaks traction. And when it does, this M3 becomes a drift master of note
If that’s all so impressive, then the brakes are at another level. M-specific BMW Integrated Braking reacts viciously and feels ruthless with a roar when pushed as those monster calipers squash M4’s giant punched and vented composite rotors.
Wild Yellow-Green Hue & Bugs Bunny Grill
We enjoyed a splendid few days with the BMW M4 Competition. This wild yellow-green hue attracted even more attention than that face, which seems to be coming a little more accepted now. That said, not all the feedback was pleasant — some people seem hostile against drivers of Beemers like this for some reason.
It’s a great car overall. A few notes later in the week noted that one may become a little fatigued in the seats on a longer run and that may call for more regular coffee breaks. And the side mirrors create a blind spot when you get too low in the car.
We’d Wait for the All Wheel Drive One
Looked at rationally however, like the early-run M3 we drove a few weeks back, the BMW M4 Competition probably has too much grunt to be only rear-wheel driven. In fact it’s better not to turn the traction control off. And that just makes me want to meet that the all-wheel drive M4 xDrive Competition even more.
So much so that were I in the market for one, I’d be inclined to wait for the xDrive. It has everything this car has and far more too. At $1,100, that’s hardly a premium.
ROAD TESTED: BMW M4 Competition Engine: 503 HP 479 lb-ft 3-litre turbo petrol I6 Drive: 8-speed automatic RWD TESTED: 0-40 mph: 2.15 sec 0-60 mph: 3.68 sec 0-75 mph: 4.73 sec 0-100 mph: 7.69 sec ¼-mile: 11.1 sec @ 121 mph 40-75 mph: 2.33 sec 75-100 mph: 3.31 sec CLAIMED: VMax: 180 mph Fuel: 29.4 mpg LIST PRICE: $74.700 RATED: 9
Photos: Michele Lupini