Are BMW M3 Awd?

• The new M3 and M4 with all-wheel drive have received more information from BMW.
• Over the rear-wheel-drive 2021 Competition models, the 2022 M3 and M4 xDrive will cost $4100 more.
• In August, the AWD vehicles will begin to arrive in the United States.

A few months from now, BMW’s first M3 with all-wheel drive will enter the American market with a hefty price increase. The AWD 2022 M3 and M4 xDrive models are only available for the more potent M3 Competition and M4 Competition variants, and they cost $4100 more than the equivalent RWD 2021 versions.

Starting prices for the M3 Competition xDrive and M4 Competition xDrive are $77,895 and $79,795, respectively. The 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo engine that powers the RWD Competition’s 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque is also available in the xDrive models. The non-Competition spec, which offers 473 horsepower, is the only option to have a six-speed manual transmission; an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard.

There are several distinct driving modes available with AWD. In “4WD Sport,” the amount of power transmitted to the rear wheels is increased, and “2WD” is a drift mode that necessitates the deactivation of stability control. The default “4WD” configuration incorporates a rear bias and distributes torque to the front wheels as necessary.

BMW claims that the xDrive models’ acceleration times to 60 mph will be 0.4 seconds faster than those of the RWD vehicles. The AWD system also increases the claimed curb weight of the M3 Competition by 100 pounds and the claimed curb weight of the M4 Competition by 99 pounds. We’re eager to put the AWD M3 and M4 to the test to see how they compare.

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Performance – Engine, Transmission, and Other

The 3.0-liter inline-six twin-turbo in the M3 sedan is similar to that in the forthcoming M4 coupe. The standard model delivers 406 pound-feet of torque and 473 horsepower to the rear wheels. There is only a six-speed manual transmission available. Even more potent, the M3 Competition’s engine produces 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, but it can only be ordered with the eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the M3 Comp, but an all-wheel-drive system with a rear-drive mode is also an option. Every M3 also has adjustable brake pedal feel and adaptive dampers. Also available for the sedan are even more powerful carbon-ceramic brakes with stylish gold-painted calipers. Both the normal M3 and the Competition model impressed us on our first drive thanks to their propensity for performing outrageous drifts, which the optional M Drift Analyzer encouraged. We also developed a liking for the manual gearbox’s smooth changes, and we were as thrilled with the engine’s strong acceleration. The M3 doesn’t quite immerse the driver as much as the noisy Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, though.

How much faster is the AWD BMW M3 than the RWD model?

BMW provides both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the new M3 Competition. The xDrive variant should be faster because to its AWD, but CarWow lined up both versions and put them head-to-head to see if that was really the case.

Evidently, the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, powers both variants. It produces 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.

CarWow’s tests revealed that the M3 Competition xDrive not only accelerates more quickly than a rear-wheel drive vehicle, but also launches more easily and delivers more reliable performance. In contrast, the rear-wheel drive vehicle requires significantly more effort to control traction, which is once again unsurprising.

The M3 Competition xDrive completed the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds as opposed to the rear-wheel drive model’s 11.6 seconds at the completion of the best-of-three drag races. The two then engage in a few rolling drag races while each is in a comfort mode.

In addition to weighing about 50 kg (110 lbs) less than the xDrive model, the rear-wheel-drive M3 Competition also features lower drivetrain losses. As a result, in both races, it defeats the xDrive variant.

Which of the two would you like to own, then? We’d have a hard time deciding, but we’d definitely go with the xDrive because it’s more adaptable to a variety of driving situations and because, if you want to have some additional fun, you can actually drive it just in rear-wheel drive mode.

Cons

You’ll almost certainly never see the new BMW M3’s flamboyant front end from the driver’s seat or, if you share the road with one, from another vehicle. Why? Because passing the BMW M3 Competition will require some very specialized equipment, just to stay up.

Even when the M3 is coming at you, it will pass by so quickly that its large vertical nostrils will appear to blend into broader shapes that harken back to the kidney grilles of earlier BMW models. Regardless of your opinions, BMW made sure the M3’s sniffer schnoz pushes a ton of air into the engine room, where its powerful 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six is housed.

According to BMW, the engine makes 479 lb-ft of torque and 503 horsepower. But dude, it seems impossible that this I-6 will produce less power than 600 horsepower. The M3 Competition we tested, which comes with BMW’s optional xDrive all-wheel drive, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in only three seconds. At 124.7 mph, the quarter mile is completed in 11.1 seconds. That is the domain of Porsche and high-performance electric vehicles.

Just 2.8 seconds separate it from the 630-hp Lamborghini Huracan STO, and just 0.1 seconds separate it from the 720-hp Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series. How can we explain how the M3, which carries 7.8 pounds for every horsepower it produces, keeps up with supercars that carry 5.1–5.4 pounds per horsepower? We cannot. BMW has a history of undervaluing its more powerful engines, but this is shocking.

It’s simply hilariously crazy, said features editor Christian Seabaugh, to sum up the situation. There is a drive mode with predictable outcomes that exclusively sends power to the back axle. However, you don’t necessarily need to turn on RWD for outrageous oversteer. Instead of throwing the M3 into a corner, you may just as easily create drifts by applying more throttle while turning the steering wheel. You’d think the car had rear drive thanks to the flawless engine torque transfer provided by BMW’s xDrive.

Senior features editor Jonny Lieberman lamented the weight, which he claimed he could feel the M3’s AWD gear added to the front axle, when compared to the rear-drive M3 Comp he’d driven earlier. Indeed, some judges saw that in order to force the M3’s mass to shift to the front for the best turn-in, particularly on the Streets of Willow Springs, and Lieberman argued that this behavior was due to the additional 100 or so pounds that the AWD M3 Competition carries up front. Most people didn’t consider it to be a disqualifier, but there wasn’t a rear-drive M3 Comp available for comparison.

The personality changes from the previous M3 to this one are more obvious. The M3 no longer gives off the impression that it is trying to pound the earth into submission with its hefty controls and excessively firm suspension. A lovely new delicacy to its dynamics has taken its place. Even in the most sporty modes, the steering is nearly light, the body is permitted to roll and pitch somewhat rather than always maintaining rigidly dead-level, and the suspension appears to have greater travel and compliance.

The M3 feels more natural thanks to this slight movement, and your body lean makes it easy to tell where you are in its grip envelope. Our shoulders appreciate the switch to the lighter steering, which, combined with the suspension’s more alert feel, gives the M3 Competition a stealthy responsiveness that is almost Alfa Romeo-like.

Which BMW M3 competition—RWD or AWD—is best?

Rear-wheel drive vs. xDrive all-wheel drive will be a topic of discussion for some time regarding the G80 BMW M3 Competition. There is a natural reluctance among traditional enthusiasts who believe all-wheel drive will tarnish the M3’s purity because it is the first M3 to be offered with it. More tolerant devotees, however, value its greater levels of grip and performance. It can be difficult to decide which is ideal, especially when attempting to change anyone’s thinking. We get to watch both automobiles and attempt to pick a winner in this brand-new video from Joe Achilles.

The rear-wheel drive BMW M3 Competition in this test is really owned by Achilles, which makes it fascinating. Before the M3 even went on sale, he placed a purchase and received possession right away. He has driven thousands of miles in his car in a short period of time, so he is quite familiar with it. Can xDrive all-wheel drive change his opinion, then?

Under the skin, both are essentially identical. The identical 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged inline-six powering both of them produces 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque and 503 horsepower (510 PS). The sole accessible transmission for both automobiles is an eight-speed automatic, thus that engine is mated to it. They both have rear-drive only transmissions, thus their drivetrains are obviously different. One has xDrive all-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive model launches in second gear during launch control because first gear is too much for just two tires, whereas the xDrive M3 starts in first. This is the only significant technical difference.

Achilles pondered the existence of the xDrive variant after spending so much time behind the wheel of the conventional rear-drive M3 Competition and not understanding why it would need one. After having driven it, I can say that even a regular automobile has a ton of traction. The xDrive M3 is far faster in most situations because it just gets traction where the rear-drive car does not. Yet it never feels worse and has the same balance and steering feel. Which does Achilles favor then? Look into it.

Drag racing between the RWD and AWD versions of the BMW M3.

When BMW unveiled the new M3 and M4 cars earlier this year, they made a somewhat intriguing choice. Although the firm stated that the Competition models would have all-wheel drive, and everyone anticipated that they would immediately deliver power to the car’s four corners, BMW chose to surprise us. Why is that? They did, however, decide to begin AWD model production in June. RWD versions were accessible prior to that.

In fact, the rear-wheel drive versions of the new BMW M3 and M4 cars were showcased in the vast majority of web videos. The new M vehicles got the power down rather efficiently even with it going to the back axle alone, so consumers were still generally happy with how they drove. The upgraded DSC system and the clever differential at the back made starting the M3 Competition quite an experience.

But now is the time to test the all-wheel drive system’s capabilities. Additionally, a drag race between the two distinct M3 Competition vehicles has already been organized by Mat from CarWow. The AWD system makes a significant difference, as you’re about to see. However, there are no shocks in this. Yes, the second race’s battle appears to be closer, but Mat jumped the gun.

What’s more intriguing, though, is that the rear-wheel drive vehicle wins a rolling race. Why is that? First off, it weighs about 50 kg less. That might be a factor, but there’s also the fact that the RWD M3 has less drivetrain loss than the all-wheel drive model, which means that more of the 510 HP gets to the wheels. Nevertheless, it’s very fascinating. Even more intriguing would have been to compare the AWD variant with the 2WD mode offered by the iDrive system.