NEW YORK: The President and CEO Ludwig Willisch has announced at the Detroit show this year, BMW North America offers about 100 different models/variants today. There are the 1 Series, 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s, 6’s, GT’s, GC’s (Gran Coupe), X’s, M’s, Z’s and i’s. And yet, despite the increasingly crowded family parking lot, a standout among all of these finely engineered rides is the new M4 (a two-door M car in this size class—the venerable M3 is sedan-only).
The M4 takes over where the M3 coupe left off. But with its flowing roofline and taut and saucy rear end, the sleek two-door is an entirely different and delectable visual experience.
The EPA categorizes BMW’s M4 as a “sub-compact.” Weak words for a performance predator. BMW has once again upped the ante with its latest M car, a fact that a few hot laps proved. The M4’s lag-free throttle response made eating up the corners of Thermal’s main track seem effortless.
The M4 is more than admirable, the pros and cons are:
Pros:
—Mighty twin-turbo-charged 425-hp inline six-cylinder engine
—406 lb-ft of torque at a mere 1850 rpm—gobs of grunt!
—seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shift
—carbon-fiber driveshaft and roof and aluminum suspension to save weight
—sexy, ripped M coupe styling
Some cons:
—a flaccid—and short!—first gear in automatic mode with traction control on—a problem to work around or just shut off by switching settings
—Confusing if precise shifter—finding a gear took finesse at first
—Enough settings to play with that it takes a while to configure the perfect set-up
—The dubious achievement of heightening the engine’s sounds via computer-generated engine noise piped through the car’s speakers
The M4 blows through BMW’s model clutter to assert itself as a lithe, competent member of the M family. It’s a real and confident threat to any contender—a high bar most will never come close to reaching. And a pure statement of performance greatness in corners, straight lines and braking as only the geniuses at the M skunkworks can achieve.
SPECS:
Base Price: $64,200
Price as Tested: $91,175
Engine: 3-liter twin-turbo-charged inline 6-cylinder
Power: 425 hp
Torque: 406 lb ft @1850 rpm
0 to 60: 3.9 sec
Top Speed: 156 mph
MPG: 17 city, 26 highway
