THREE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM OUR MAN KACHER’S PROTOTYPE DRIVE

1

THE FRONT END IS A PEACH

‘Steering e ort decreases when you switch from Sport Plus to Sport, and again when you go back to Normal. Steering feel is there in 3D haptic force, with input, weight and self-centering action delivering a persuasive lesson in homogeneity. The brakes bite promptly but need a heavy hoof. But at the end of the day it’s the awesome front-axle grip, rather than the car’s stopping power, which dominates the driving experience. Because the front tyres just hang on and on, the new M3 can carry quantifiably more speed into a corner than before.’

2

IT’S SAFELY TAIL HAPPY

‘Oversteer is there for the taking in the bottom three gears. When it rains, however, involuntary tail-out antics in fourth and fifth are the rule rather than the exception [this was the 473bhp, rear-drive car]. Heart-stopping at first, these shoulder-shrugging motions soon become second nature because all it takes to re-join the original flight path is a quick flick at the wheel and, occasionally, the briefest lift. To fully relish this innate tail-happiness, the new M3/M4 comes with a new drift control analogous with AMG’s yellow oversteer thumbwheel. Wind things o progressively and you can learn on the job, in safety.’

3

THE xDRIVE M3/M4 PROMISE GREATNESS

‘The new M3/M4 has fewer edges but is a sharper tool nonetheless. It’s a better car now in almost every respect, and that appeal will only grow when it becomes available with all-wheel drive.’