Check Out the Grille on THAT: 2021 BMW M3 and M4 Arrive on Scene

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

The 2021 BMW M3 and M4 are here, and hard to miss, thanks to a gaping maw of a grille.

Divisive looks aside – and I have a feeling the discussion about these Bimmers will make political debates seem tame – the cars promise plenty of power.

To wit, an increased 48 ponies over the base engine and 59 more (and 73 lb-ft more of torque) over the Competition model. That translates into 473 and 503. Base engines have 406 lb-ft of torque, while the Competition has 479 lb-ft.

BMW is claiming 0-60 times of 4.1 and 3.8 seconds, respectively.

If you like the three-pedal dance, rejoice, as the rear-drive models will have a six-speed manual transmission. Competition models have an eight-speed automatic, due to their higher torque figure. There’s a manual-shifting mode for the slushbox, if you must.

Competition models will also be available with all-wheel drive starting in the summer of 2021. The system will be rear-biased, with torque shifting to the front wheels only when necessary. A 4WD Sport mode will ensure torque flows to the rear during performance driving, especially on track, and the system can be turned to be rear-drive only.

Other news includes a new function for the traction-control system that allows for an adjustable amount of allowable wheel slip, new aluminum wishbones with ball joints for the front suspension, new mounts for the front aluminum torque arm, and new hubs and wishbone control arms for the rear suspension. The front track is 1.5 inches wider.

The brakes are updated, too. They’re six-piston, fixed-caliper up front and rear single-piston floating units in the rear. Carbon-ceramic brakes and thicker rotors are available.

New 18- and 19-inch wheels are available, and the Competition models have 19- or 20-inchers to choose from.

An M Carbon exterior package is available. New seats are available for the cabin, including sport buckets that allow for the use of racing seatbelts. The Ms get the latest version of iDrive, which now uses cloud-based navigation.

A new onboard app called M Drive Professional will help wannabe Andrettis improve their track skills, using various data. Some results can be shared online by iPhone users.

Most of the usual suspects when it comes to driver-aid tech will be available.

The new Ms and their gaping grille reach the market in March, with the M3 starting at $69,900 and the M4 at $71,800, plus $995 for destination.

[Images: BMW]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Jpolicke In a communist dictatorship, there isn't much export activity that the government isn't aware of. That being the case, if the PRC wanted to, they could cut the flow of fentanyl down to a trickle. Since that isn't happening, I therefore assume Xi Jinping doesn't want it cut. China needs to feel the consequences for knowingly poisoning other countries' citizens.
  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
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