First revealed to the world in 2013, the BMW M4 was an all-new nomenclature for the Bavarian brand, replacing the previous M3 Coupe in line with the brand’s new model naming strategy. The F82, as it is known, went on to be a roaring success for the M Division, leading to increased pressure on BMW to ensure that its replacement was better in every way.
Enter the G82, the latest M4, which started life controversially when spy images of its enormous grille made international automotive news. The rather obvious difference in front-ends aside, what are the key differences between the new and old M4 models?
1.S58 power
The previous-generation M4 models are powered by the famous S55 twin-turbo straight-six engine known for its potent punch and tyre-shredding power and torque, however, there is a new kid on the block, the S58, which is even more powerful. The new unit is also a 3.0-litre and is twin-turbocharged, but produces 375kW and 650Nm of torque in the M4 Competition models, which were the only variants on sale at the time of writing.
2.Rear and four-wheel drive
With great power comes great traction requirements, so those who prefer the surefooted nature of an all-wheel drive system have the option of ordering their M4 with the brand’s xDrive all-wheel drive system which only sends power to the front wheels when the rear wheels fun out of traction. While certainly no slouch, the 3.9 seconds it takes for the rear-wheel drive M4 Competition models to reach 100km/h is eclipsed by the xDrive models, which complete the sprint in 3.5 seconds. This is the first time that an M4 model has been offered with the xDrive system.
3.New colours
In addition to the new Sao Paulo Yellow, Isle of Man Green and Toronto Red, there are also various BMW Individual ‘frozen’ colours, offering a matte finish rarely seen on the previous generation model.
4.Special M carbon seats
The M carbon seats available in the M4 range are a new addition, not seen before on M4 models. The carbon-backed buckets are pure automotive art and are available in Black with Anthracite accents, Silverstone/Black with accents in Anthracite, Kyalami Orange/Black with accents in Black as well as Yas Marina Blue/Black with accents in Yellow. In addition to transforming the interior of your M4 into an automotive retro New Balance sneaker, each seat is also 5kg lighter than those that come as standard.
5.The rise of the torque converter
With a history of notchy manual gearboxes and lightning-fast dual-clutch units, the M4 models now inherit the same 8-speed torque converter gearbox seen in the M SUV models of late. In addition to being smoother, the unit retains its three shift programmes, allowing the user to alter the gear shift ferocity.
