When it comes to performance cars, one of the first things that come to mind is BMW’s M division. The German marque’s performance wing launched the M6 Gran Coupé earlier this year. Now, BMW is launching two more high-powered Bimmers on November 26 – the M3 sedan and the M4 coupé.
Mechanically, the two cars are very similar. Both get powered by a 3.0-litre BMW M twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine that makes 425bhp and 56kgm of torque. Transmission options include a seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearbox or a six-speed manual. The manual gearbox is unlikely to offered in the Indian markets.
Both the cars have a 0-100kph sprint time of less than five seconds, before going on to an electronically limited top-speed of 250kph. High-tensile materials used in conjunction with carbonfibre reinforced polymer on the two cars also help them duck under the 1,500kg mark. This load shedding has not only helped improve performance but has also helped reduce fuel consumption by a claimed 25 percent.
The cars made their global debut in early 2014, and both the M3 and the M4 are based on the same platform; the difference is in terms of design. The M3 takes from the 3-series sedan, while the M4 shares details with the 4-series coupe.
The M3 and the M4 rivals the likes of the Audi RS5 and the Mercedes C63 AMG.