Deceptively fast car for deep-thinking types
You’d never crack peanuts with a sledgehammer. Why should you daily-drive a BMW M4?
This high-performance twodoor is gross overkill for normal use. It’s almost completely wasted on the street. Short of owning a private Autobahn, where are you able to access even a fraction of its capability on the public tarmac? The BMW M4 coupe begs for an open racetrack, sunny weather and a tank full of highoctane petroleum distillates. Trips to a Starbucks drivethrough or the grocery store are like asking Julia Child to microwave a TV dinner. Race-bred performance To deliver motorsports-grade performance, engineers took a holistic approach with this machine and its four-door sibling, the M3 (and huskier brother, the M4 Convertible). Compared to these cars’ predecessors, they reduced weight, improved aerodynamics and installed a race-bred powertrain. Accordingly, this thoroughbred can get from zero to 100 km/h in as little as 4.1 seconds.
Helping enable that blistering acceleration are numerous features. The car’s roof is made of lightweight carbon fibre, it’s fitted with an active differential and, compared to the previousgeneration M3 coupe, weighs around 80 kg less, though it still tips the scales at nearly 1,642 kg when equipped with the optional dual-clutch automatic transmission. Mechanical poetry But the real magic is tucked neatly behind that iconic double-kidney grille. The M4 is motivated by a twin-turbocharged inline-six that churns out more power and A LOT MORE torque than its predecessor’s V8, which was rated at 414 and 295, respectively, though in spite of the pumped-up performance it does fall short in one area: sound quality.
With 3.0-litres of a pistonswept area, this straight-six provides 444 horses and 406 pound-feet of twist in Competition Pack-equipped models, plus 7,600 rpm to play with, a high top speed for a force-fed engine and something that hints at its linear powerband.
As you might have expected, two transmissions are offered in the M4. This includes a standard six-speed manual, one with a dual-plate clutch and carbon-friction linings on the synchro rings for added durability. Our test car was equipped with the optional M dual-clutch automatic, a $3,900 upcharge. With seven ratios at its disposal, it delivers maximum performance and respectable fuel economy, 13.5 L/100 km and 9.9 L/100 km on the highway. Combined, it should return an advertised 11.9 L/100 km. Luxury-car appointments In spite of the M4 Coupe’s sporting intentions, its interior is buttoned down and richer than you might expect in such a speed-focused machine.
The front bucket seats, which in the car I tested were covered in a coarse-but-grippy fabric, were plenty comfortable and adjustable in myriad ways. Going with this standard seating material saves big coin.
The back seats are adultfriendly, with ample legroom. A touch more head-space for sixfooters might be nice.
Leading the automotive industry, BMW’s wireless implementation of Apple CarPlay is as brilliant as it is convenient. Your iPhone connects to the vehicle in a flash while staying safely stowed — no need to fumble with a charging cable. The drive But back to what really matters with the M4: driving. Bury its treadle-style accelerator pedal and this high-performance coupe LEAPS ahead, whether you’re at highway speed or just taking off from a light.
Thanks to abundant torque that’s available anywhere the tachometer needle is pointing, this car is deceptively fast, suddenly you’re doing 100 km/h in a 70-zone and it only feels like about 50.
The smoothness of its powertrain undoubtedly contributes to this sensation of speed, or, rather, lack thereof. Brace for impact! The base price for an M4 Coupe is about $86,049, but the example I tested went for about $106,744.
The single most expensive option was the M Carbon Ceramic Brake package. Skip it and you’ll save $8,500. The verdict I found the M4 more cerebral than soulful. It’s a thinking man or woman’s sports car.
Yes, it’s fast, fun and unexpectedly livable thanks to a spacious back seat, but BMW’s smaller M2 offers a purer driving experience for much less money.
As I mentioned at the top of this review, evaluating a car such as this on the street is a complete insult to its abilities. It should be used for crushing stones, not cracking nuts.