Bavarian rhapsody
The BMW M4 and 4 Series gets new headlights, interior has been rejigged, and power outputs have been bumped up
THE BMW M4 AND 4 SERIES GET A mid-life facelift with a fresh face, updated design and improved performance. To make you feel ready for competition, you’ve got tonnes of optional carbonfibre extras. For those crying ‘save the sticks’, the six-speed manual ’box lives on. The BMW M4 Coupe and Convertible houses a straight six-cylinder engine that makes 473bhp. For those who crave an extra adrenaline kick, there is the BMW M4 Competition Coupe, a beast with a dollop of extra power — 523bhp (+20bhp than before) and 650Nm of torque. Paired with the slick eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, this M sprints from 0-100kmph in 3.5 seconds. The optional M driver package increases the electronically limited top speed by 40kmph to 290kmph. It gets 18-inch M forged light-alloy wheels at the front and 19-inch at the rear as standard. The M4 Coupe also gets optional M design graphics for the bonnet and the rear lid. On the inside, there’s a 14.9-inch infotainment system and 12.3-inch instrument cluster with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ventilated seats, wireless charger and a 10-speaker sound system with a 250W amplifier. The optional M Race Track package includes carbon bucket seats, interior trim strips in gloss carbonfibre, and carbon ceramic brakes resulting in a weight reduction
Right and above: The M Sport package for the 4 series gets the M Shadowline lights. The M4 gets optional graphics for the bonnet and rear lid of 25kg. The M Carbon exterior package includes carbonfibre inserts for the front air intakes, rear diffuser and exterior mirror caps.
The BMW 4 Series Coupe and Convertible gets an inline-six petrol that makes 369bhp and 500Nm, and a straight-six diesel that makes 335bhp and 700Nm. Both are paired with a 48V mild hybrid motor that generates 11bhp of boost. The engines are mated to an eight-speed steptronic transmission, while the M Performance variants also get M Sport brakes, M Sport differential and 20-inch M Performance forged wheels. Seeking inspiration from the BMW M4 CSL, it gets new headlights and laser taillights, with an optional adaptive feature. Inside, you get a wireless charger, head-up display, ADAS level 2 and the Parking Assistant feature as standard. The gear selector lever and iDrive controller can also be specced with glass, like in the BMW X7. The BMW M4 Competition Coupe produces the highest power against its rivals like the Audi RS5 and the Mercedes-AMG CLE Coupe, it also gets the most modern tech, but what it still carries is the unpopular front kidney grille. Nevertheless, an M4 is an M4. ⌧