BMW M cars are made for race tracks, so just how roadworthy are they?
Advertizement
Obsessions
BMW M cars are made for race tracks, so just how roadworthy are they?
Developed for the race rails yet versatile enough for everyday driving, the M3, M4 and M5 models let yous to configure the engine, steering and brake settings according to your whim, as nosotros discovered on a recent test-drive.
The M4 Competition Coupe and M3 Competition Sedan share the same drivetrain and performance, merely housed in a dissimilar torso form. (Photo: BMW)
03 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 07 Aug 2022 06:38PM)
Few cars trigger the trifecta of power, emotion and desirability in petrolheads like a BMW Thousand model. They are the very personification of performance, maxim as much nearly its driver and their personality, skill, and ability.
They're circuitous creatures, y'all see. Supercharged and highly configurable vehicles flexing supreme agility and requiring a sure degree of proficiency to coax the best out of these beasts.
READ> What information technology'south similar to drive the Ferrari Roma alongside a Singaporean pro racer
So what a treat it was when we had the opportunity to bulldoze not just one G model, but three in a day when we put the new M3, M4 and M5 through their paces through the metropolis at a contempo M Power Twenty-four hours with BMW.
With JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach every bit our starting betoken, we zipped through unlike routes from Upper Peirce Reservoir to Changi Drome with pit stops in between, interchanging vehicles in succession as we tested their musculus and might.
And a delight to drive they are – particularly if you know what you're doing – and favourites quickly emerged, as each offers a distinctive drive feel thank you to their high configurability.
Ane would therefore benefit from a little tutorial of the electronic operating systems because the beauty of these babies is their power to evangelize a tailored drive experience, based on your choreography of the various settings.
This gives the trio of rear-wheel drives something of a transformer character, changing the fashion they carry with but a few flicks – making them as versatile and adjustable for the race rails as for everyday driving.
READ> Goodbye, bulky keys: You can now unlock your BMW with just your iPhone
RAW, RUGGED, UNDULTERATED Power
The M3 Competition Sedan and M4 Competition Coupe share the same drivetrain and performance, just housed in a different torso grade; the former a four-door sedan with space for five, while the latter is a 4-seater coupe.
Both are powered by a new three-litre inline-vi engine boosted with Thou TwinPower Turbo technology that makes 510hp of power at six,250 rpm and height torque of 650Nm between two,750 rpm and v,500 rpm.
Faster than you can say 'faster than a speeding bullet', both cars tin hit the century dart in a blistering iii.nine seconds, up to a summit speed of 250 km/h. This represents an 18 per cent increase in power compared with the last generation that has been on the market for the by six years. Speed has also improved; at present 0.2 seconds quicker than before.
With supreme power delivery comes the promise of awesome agility, and both the M3 and M4 exercise not fail to deliver.
Poured into an M-specific chassis proffering extremely high torsional rigidity, both models withstand lateral forces superbly for more precise and joyful cornering while the adaptive 1000 suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers and Thou-specific kinematics and elastokinematics on the front end and rear axles (standard) add to the fantastic drive experience.
The vii-speed dual-clutch transmission in the previous generation has now been stepped up to an 8-speed 1000 Steptronic automated transmission with Drivelogic for extremely sporty gear shifts.
And this is where information technology gets interesting – the characteristics of the engine, chassis, steering and brakes tin can all exist individually configured according to your mood of the moment. You tin create two pre-selected combinations that y'all can deploy at the touch of a push via the two red M tabs on the steering column, or you can think other combos you have pre-stored via iDrive access.
Meanwhile, variable traction control allows you lot to fine-tune the level of electronic interventions you wish to have – giving the driver the option of controlled drifting power so y'all can learn to drift on a race track, safely and progressively (when borders reopen and a trip to the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor upward north becomes a possibility, perhaps). Or, it tin can be disabled for more experienced drivers.
Also Rail style that allows yous to access the vehicle's unadulterated power on outings to the race circuit, at that place are Road and Sport modes for everyday driving. Paddle shifts on the steering wheel allow yous to switch spontaneously between automatic and manual mode, thus adding to the fun.
READ> Charity drive: How BMW supported Malaysia's underprivileged during MCO 1.0
SHARP STYLING AND STUNNING SHADES
What will strike y'all on sight is how emotive the duo's styling is, peculiarly the M3 in that stunning shade of Isle of man Light-green. A little less love, though, for the M4 in Sao Paolo Yellow, which could unfortunately be mistaken for a CityCab at a quick glance.
From the front, however, those sporty M lines and features are unmistakable, comprised of BMW'south somewhat divisive new-manner kidney grill (frameless here) fix between adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight – buttressed by large air intakes to facilitate optimum inflow with flics integrated into the air curtains to optimise aerodynamics at high speeds.
Moving towards the rear, you'll find racing car-inspired extended side sills in High-gloss Black, topped with a roof made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic with two aerodynamically optimised fins running longitudinally alongside. Or you can opt for a steel roof with integral glass tilt/sliding sunroof as a no-cost alternative.
Black trims abound, from the rear diffuser to the pair of tailpipes, while the model-specific exhaust organisation with electrically controlled flaps promises to deliver an emotionally rich soundtrack.
Just equally thrilling is the M3 and M4's flashy interior, starting with newly-developed, electrically adjustable Thou Sport seats in fine-grain Merino full leather trim every bit standard, with seat ventilation bachelor for the beginning time. More exciting Grand Carbon bucket seats make their debut here, every bit an optional addition. Meanwhile, tri-coloured M stitching on seat belts make for a simple detail that invokes the pure joy of belonging to a very exclusive club of M enthusiasts.
When information technology comes to wheels, size certainly does matter and, the bigger the better. And so the M3 and M4 are fitted with newly-designed, forged G calorie-free-blend wheels (19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear), with polished rim edges to accentuate their size.
Saving my favourite for terminal, the M5 Competition ups the ante with a more powerful 4.iv-litre V8 engine with BMW 1000 TwinPower Turbo technology that generates a whopping 625hp of ability and 750Nm of torque. This powers upward the M5 to nail the century dash in an even more than sensational iii.3 seconds.
Different its two siblings that are more niche in appeal due to their raw and rugged drivability, the M5 negotiates the dynamic tightrope betwixt everyday usability and track-worthy functioning quite wonderfully. It offers a more comfortable and smoother ride for those who prefer a more cushioned experience.
Credit goes to the M xDrive system and its centralised intelligent control for the Active M Differential technology that is responsible for agility, handling and traction.
New daze absorbers shared with the BMW M8 Gran Coupe coupled with a retuned chassis and stiffer springs too come up into play, as bumps and ruts in the road are passed through the torso to a far lesser degree. The M5 thus takes sharp corners with ease, precision and poise whether at high or depression speeds.
Now every bit the loftier configurability factor continues in the M5, you can even so individually tweak its settings to get the car to twerk to your fancy. Just play around with the configurations for the engine, steering, transmission, etc and watch your M5 accept on different character profiles.
There'due south fifty-fifty an M Audio Control push button that summons a dialled down version of the M Sport exhaust growl for when you might adopt to attract a little less attending.
Speaking of rolling in with more mode, your M5 rolls off the manufactory floor with forged, bi-color, twenty-inch K light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design, with Thousand Compound brakes bearing the Grand logo as standard while the hit K Carbon ceramic gilded-coloured callipers are the more sectional option.
Matched with a metal Motegi Red body (one of five new finishes including Brands Hatch Grey, Tanzanite Bluish II, Aventurine Scarlet II and Frozen Bluestone) – it's a sizzling combo for which, we believe, there'due south piddling competition.
READ> How a sometime motorsport mechanic's assistant built a multimillion-dollar engineering firm
BMW M3 COMPETITION & M4 COMPETITION SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:ii,993cc inline-6 twin-turbocharged
POWER: 510hp at 6,250 rpm
TORQUE: 650Nm at i,850-5,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed One thousand Steptronic transmission with paddle shift
ACCELERATION (0 – 100 km/h): iii.9 seconds
Superlative SPEED: 250kmh (electronically limited)
FUEL CONSUMPTION: ten.1L/100 km & 10.2 L/100 km
CO2 EMISSIONS (combined): 234 thousand/km
PRICE FOR M3 Contest: S$446,888
PRICE FOR M4 COMPETITION: $451,888
BMW M5 Contest SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE: iv,395cc inline-8 twin-turbocharged
Power: 625hp at six,000 rpm
TORQUE: 750 Nm at 1,800 – 5,860 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed Chiliad Steptronic manual with paddle shift
ACCELERATION (0 – 100 km/h): 3.3 seconds
Peak SPEED: 250 km/h
FUEL CONSUMPTION (combined): 11.three L/100 km
CO2 EMISSIONS (combined): 259 thou/km
Price: S$540,888
READ> 4 ways the automotive manufacture will change in a post-coronavirus world
Recent Searches
Trending Topics
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/obsessions/bmw-m-cars-made-for-race-tracks-how-roadworthy-248776
0 Response to "BMW M cars are made for race tracks, so just how roadworthy are they?"
Postar um comentário