When six cylinders meet boost, you can have fun with 2-doors or 4. So if you want to know what makes them so potent, here are the 2021 BMW M3 & M4 Competition powertrains explained. Normally their latest engines debut in this pair, but the X3M and X4M are where we first met. Their latest 3-liter has 3 cylinders feeding each turbo. This allows them to spool instantly at the expense of a “unique” exhaust soundtrack. Both cars offer 510 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.
This is a better power-to-weight ratio than the iconic E46 while also maintaining 23 mpg. The 8-speed automatic is all-new, replacing the dual-clutch gearbox that weighed twice as much. It has 3 driving modes, D1 being a smooth cruise and D3 is straight from the Nurburgring. Perhaps the best feature is “Overtake”. In order to leave everyone in the dust, the transmission drops to the lowest possible gear, skipping several if needed. Boost and power are instant, and smiles are genuine. To see how they are so nimble, checkout their weight and handling here.
Image (C) BMW
