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.
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With all-wheel drive, the BMW M3 and M4 Competition are quicker.
The new BMW M3 sedan and M4 coupe are already selling briskly. Although rear-wheel drive is now the only option for the basic and Competition models, all-wheel drive will soon be offered as an option. The new M3 and M4 xDrive models, both of which will go on sale in August, were officially announced by BMW on Sunday.
Only the more potent M3 Competition and M4 Competition models come with all-wheel drive. This indicates that you receive the higher-output 3.0-liter twin-turbo I6 engine from BMW, which has 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Of course, the fact that AWD versions are restricted to Competition implies that they are also automatic-only. It’s all sad trombones for you if you were hoping for an AWD M3/M4 with the six-speed manual transmission.
The M3 Competition and M4 Competition can reach 60 mph with all-wheel drive in 3.4 seconds, which is 0.4 seconds faster than their rear-wheel-drive equivalents. Despite the AWD vehicles carrying an additional 100 pounds of weight.
The M3 and M4 default to rear-wheel drive during normal driving, with a torque-vectoring rear differential shifting power side to side, like BMW’s other all-wheel-drive M cars. Whenever necessary, the xDrive system can transmit power to the front axle. When the stability control system is disabled, the M3 and M4 can be locked into a rear-only 2WD mode, which maintains a stronger rear bias while distributing power. Drift Mode is what that means.
The RWD Competition versions’ colors and features are also available for the all-wheel-drive M3 and M4, but xDrive is a relatively pricey addition. The starting price for the M4 Competition xDrive is $79,795 while the starting price for the M3 Competition xDrive is $77,895. Both prices include $995 for destination. The price difference between the AWD variants and their rear-drive counterparts is $4,100. Price is always associated with performance.
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.
Finally, the BMW M3 and M4 have an AWD option.
The 2021 M3 and 2021 M4 have an intelligent all-wheel drive system for the first time ever, following in the footsteps of the BMW M5.
Since its debut, all-wheel drive has advanced significantly. In fact, it has developed so much that it is now associated with performance, whether that performance is provided by a supercar, sports vehicle, or hypercar. A excellent spot to see how AWD is making its way down Munich’s performance lineup is inside BMW’s own stable. The new M3 and M4 also receive the M xDrive treatment after the existing M5.
The new BMW M3 has all-wheel drive, right?
Review of the 2018 BMW M3 from a professional The five-seat 3 Series competes against the Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and is available with rear- or all-wheel drive (designated xDrive). LED headlights are now required, and the touchscreen version of BMW’s iDrive 6.0 multimedia system is offered.
Does the M3 have all-wheel drive?
The BMW M3 now offers four-wheel drive as an option in addition to the conventional rear-wheel drive configuration for the first time in its 35-year history.
Along with a four-wheel-drive version of its M4 coupe sibling that is technically similar, the new M3 Competition M xDrive goes into production in July. Prices start at PS77,015 and PS78,315, which is a PS2260 premium over the typical Competition models.
The ordinary M3 and M4 Competition models weigh 1730 kg and 1725 kg, respectively. The addition of a powered front axle should add about 50 kg to those weights, but, in the words of BMW, it provides “track-focused performance with flawless usability.”
When did the all-wheel-drive M3 debut?
When it came to the drivetrain, the sixth generation BMW M3 saw significant upgrades. This new BMW also represented the first time that all-wheel drive was made available as an option, using an S58 3.0-liter straight-six that was previously only accessible in the G01 X3 M. However, only the rear-wheel-drive version is offered with a manual, six-speed gearbox. The variants with all-wheel drive come with BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
The M3 Sedan, M3 Competition Sedan, and Competition xDrive sedan—the all-wheel-drive model—were the three different versions of this M3.
With a starting output of 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, the sixth-generation M3’s engine can reach 155 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The Competition edition accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.8 seconds thanks to its 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The limitation can be be disabled with an optional driver’s package to increase the highest speed to 180 miles per hour.
All of BMW’s M Performance Parts are compatible with this generation as well. The body style can be changed with the addition of wings, body skirts, and a M Performance Exhaust system.
Parking assistance and an executive package, which is an option and comes with a heads-up display and a heated steering wheel, are among the technological upgrades. The Competition models also provide a comprehensive range of expert driving assistance.
Has the BMW M3 xDrive?
Yes, there is a purpose for the moniker “xDrive,” as only the Competition variant offers 4-wheel traction for M3 purchasers for the first time. BMW claims the all-wheel-drive system is not an obstacle to going fast but is instead there to help you make the most of the M3’s power.
A BMW M3 is it AWD?
New Things. BMW’s M xDrive AWD technology is now available for the M3 for the first time. Engineers modified the M3’s front axle shape, steering ratio, and oil system to accommodate the rear biased, torque vectoring drivetrain, which is only available on Competition models.
Is the BMW M3 a reliable vehicle?
Is the BMW M3 a reliable vehicle? The BMW M3 is a high-performance saloon rival to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Mercedes-AMG C63, and Audi RS4. Many people still think it’s the best because it was the first and manages to pack so much pace and excitement into a practical, family-friendly package.
Why did BMW discontinue the M3?
Not because of poor sales, but rather because a new model of the 3 series sedan was required, the M3 sedan was discontinued (F30). There is no chance that BMW will continue producing an M3 sedan based on the previous 3 series after the E90 sedan’s production ceased and the F30 sedan’s production began.
Has the BMW M Series AWD?
Four on the ground.
M xDrive all-wheel drive is available on the BMW M3 Competition and BMW M4 Competition.
19. Apr 2021
BMW M GmbH introduces the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system for the new BMW M3 Competition Sedan and the new BMW M4 Competition Coupe, providing consistently greater traction for even more driving enjoyment. This entails increased performance, increased driven wheels, and increased signature M sensation. The M-specific all-wheel-drive technology, which is familiar from M vehicles like the BMW M8 Competition, enables the new models to accelerate more quickly than ever before thanks to maximum traction. Three power transmission modes are available with the M xDrive for BMW M3 and M4: two performance-focused 4WD modes and one pure 2WD mode for an extremely purest driving experience.