11/21/2023 0 Comments Bmw m3 marpEverything on the M3 Competition is track-ready, with electronically controlled brakes that feel far better than those in a standard 3 or 4 Series. Then when I come upon a twisty bit of back road - or even a long highway on-ramp - brawler mode instantly ratchets the M3 up to far more aggressive, entertaining levels for as long as I want it to.Īnd man, is it ever entertaining. For around-town driving, I keep it in cruiser mode and enjoy driving a comfortable, luxurious sports sedan. When it comes to M Performance cars, I like to set up one of the two options as a cruiser (relaxed responses, softer suspension, easy-does-it gear changes) and the other as a brawler (aggressive steering, firmer suspension, hair-trigger throttle). ![]() 2021 BMW M3 Competition | photo by Aaron Bragman You store your settings in the computer, then choose them via a couple of big red buttons right on the steering wheel. The beauty of the M3 is that everything seems electronically adjustable, from throttle response and transmission shifts to steering feedback and brake pedal feel. Mash the go-pedal and hang on for dear life, as the thing rockets forward with serious force when asked to do so. I rarely used the manual function for shifting gears I felt no need to second-guess what the transmission was doing quite well on its own, and the idea of manually shifting an automatic transmission with flappy paddle shifters strikes me as silly.Īcceleration is explosive. The two are exceptionally well matched, and you can fine-tune how it performs by selecting one of six progressively sportier transmission modes - three automatic and three manual. I didn’t even mind that my test car was an automatic, as its engine and transmission combination is world-beating. I drove a rear-wheel-drive M3, but, for the first time, all-wheel drive is set to be available any moment now. I drove a Competition trim, which can be had only with an eight-speed automatic transmission if you want a stick shift, there’s a six-speed manual available, but it can’t be had with the Competition variant. That’s a bit more than in the standard M3, where the engine produces “only” 473 hp and 406 pounds-feet of torque. It starts with one of the sweetest gasoline powertrains ever put on four wheels: BMW’s TwinPower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine, which pumps out 503 horsepower and 479 pounds-feet of torque in the Competition trim. The result looks half-done and amateurish - a decidedly disappointing visual update that takes away a significant portion of the M3’s appeal.Ģ021 BMW M3 Competition | photo by Aaron Bragman This is BMW cheapening out on the upgrade from 3 Series to M3 by not also modifying the door skins in order to save a couple bucks. Then you’ll notice the door skins have not been widened to match the fenders, which becomes awkward where the rear doors meet the rear quarter panels. Look down the M3’s body side and you’ll notice the fenders have been flared to cover its wider wheels and tires. The best anyone seems able to muster about the odd grille treatment is, “It doesn’t look too bad.” That’s a damned far cry from “Wow, that’s gorgeous.”īut it isn’t just the grille that’s offensive. This is a worse transgression than the “Bangle butt” of the 2002 BMW 7 Series. OK, we should just get this out of the way: BMW’s new buck-toothed styling is awful. Related: Quicker 2022 BMW M3, M4 Competitions With AWD Priced Under $80,000 The Beav - Uh, Elephant in the Room Can the M3’s performance and other abilities overcome its questionable looks? But if our anecdotal discussions with current M3 sedan and M4 coupe owners are any indication, the M3’s new styling may just impact its viability for a lot of buyers. ![]() There’s plenty of debate in the car-enthusiast world, but something that hasn’t generally been an issue for the BMW M3 before is its looks - until now: Is it too ugly to be seriously considered? We don’t normally discuss how a vehicle looks, as taste in design is largely subjective one person’s hideous is another person’s appealing. ![]() Is the new one as good as the old one? Can all its technology make up for the extra weight it lugs around? Has it become too expensive, too unattainable, too electronic? The BMW M3 is one of those iconic sports machines that creates strong feelings among enthusiasts. ![]() Versus the competition: The M3’s adjustability sets it apart from competitors like the Mercedes-AMG C63 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio it can be a calm around-town cruiser or the ultimate track monster with the push of a few buttons. The verdict: Even more capable than before, the new M3 is a supercar disguised as a sedan - but it’s the disguise itself that might just be a deal breaker.
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