BMW M4 Coupé: driving test and video
Posted on 19-05-2014 at 16:00 by Wouter – 101 Comments”
Jawohl!
[ First look, then read? Watch the video HERE! ]
If there is one car needs no introduction, this is the new M3. Except that BMW in all their wisdom the car that their gamma defines a new name. In the spreadsheets of the marketing department showed that consumers to 2,73% more willing to pay for a coupe with a type name where a higher positioning. As the BMW Group over 2014 and a record shows, that for the most part by the introduction of the name 4 series.
The car that every BMW rider’s night dream is called today, so M4. The M3 is not, incidentally, disappeared from the stage, but that plate is only on sedans stuck.
Twinpower Turbo!
The engine is literally the pulsating heart of every BMW M model, and that also applies to the new M4 and M3. The 3.0 litre six-cylinder engine is equipped with turbochargers, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC (variable valve timing and double VANOS (continuously variable nokkenastiming). The best part is probably that the block despite the turbo’s still have a maximum speed of 7,600 rpm. The V8 of the E92 M3 is running slightly higher revs, but a grouser on that, please.
The maximum power is only slightly increased: 431 hp, but the torque got a boost. The 550 Nm of torque are also over practically the entire engine speed range (1.800 to 5.390 t.p.m). It makes the six-in-line will be less racy, but for the daily practice is a lot easier to drive and faster. Also on the circuit running the M4 faster laps, on the circuit of Portimao saves even 4.5 seconds.
The 0-100 comes with the optional M Double Clutch Drivelogic zevenversnellingsbak with launch control in all of 4.1 seconds. That is if it is possible to activate it (sigh) and if you’re not unintentionally the Smokey Burnout function is turned on. That function does exactly what your tire dealer ardent hopes: full acceleration with ‘ any wheelspin and so smoking tires”.
But no goosebumps
My complaint about the last generation M5 was that I certainly not found very special. The M4 is so, even though the six-in-line a little more character than the V8 from the M5. Perhaps it is also good to explain why the sound in sports cars is so important. If we are really honest, really bloedeerlijk, then we must conclude that in many cases the snelheidspotentieel not in use. Yesterday I heard long before I saw him, a C63 AMG through the city, barking. Hard reed the best man, but also at low engine speeds and part throttle it sounds a AMG impressive. That is exactly what you miss in the M4, the engine is only really fun if you have the six-cylinder engine towards the red line hunts.
At the bottom of sound, the TwinPower turbo a bit like the big diesels from BMW, they use also the hi-fi system to a more interesting sound to create. I don’t know whose grandson from the board of directors at BMW a Playstation, but it seems to me wise to him, and the eea to explain. If we canned motor noise want to hear, we do not give 100.000+ euro for a car, but we get 2 mille a hi-fi set + game console. To a little positive note to end: with windows open you hear a lot more of the exhaust noise. The one who so an M4 Convertible on their shortlist have more to go out and enjoy the snerp from the exhaust, which in the dense versions not to the interior penetrates.
Drunk as a tempelier to good use
A teenager is nothing in. Fully representative for normal daily use is a session in and around Portimao, but the tank ran faster empty than when I have a few sessions 0-315 km/h in a RS6 did. At constant speed, it’s all still in place, but once you get the M4 uses for which it is conceived, runs the fuel just not literally the scuppers. BMW itself describes the drinking behavior incidentally as follows: ”The new power unit also excels by its modest fuel consumption: 8,3 l/100 km. That means CO2 emissions of 194 g/km. These figures are more than 25 percent more favorable than that of the previous BMW M3.”
If you’re not a member of the Club of 90, you go there, at least not in the near. The double, there seems to be more on.
Technology
Of these standard bearers for BMW, you may also from a technological one, and expect, and that is also true. So are the M3 and M4 by using lightweight materials around 80 kilograms lighter than their predecessors. Also the M3 sedan will get this generation, a roof of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), for the M4 is that its predecessor already had. It not only looks cool but also makes for a weight saving, an important point of the car, and helps the center of gravity lower.
That is not the only place where CFRP is used, also the cardan shaft to the rear axle is made of it. As a result, the shaft 40% lighter, it also to a faster response of the powertrain leads. The last component of CFRP is the veerpootbrug, which are both rigid and preferably not too heavy.
For chassis and body components on many points, use is made of aluminium. It is too boring to have all the aluminum parts to name, but the control arms in the wheel suspension are made of forged aluminum. That saves around 3 kilograms compared with the previous M3 E92 coupe. Total is the M4, some 80 kilograms lighter.
In the area of aerodynamics can benefit the M4 also of the countless beautiful things that BMW lately has concocted. The Air Curtains, M gills with integrated Air Breathers to reduce turbulence in the front wheels. The incoming airflow for the oil cooler creates a venturi effect and generates more downforce on the front wheels. The mirrors with the floating/ empty upper leg are not there for the show, but that makes for less wind resistance.
A real M and a real barrier
The BMW M3 Sedan and BMW M4 Coupé are equipped with the Active M Differential – an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. The barrier can be completely (100%) block or not at all (0%). The electronics determines that for you and this works great.
We can still set something?
That can certainly. The chassis, helm, throttle response, gear shifting and the ESP. Fortunately BMW you also have two buttons on the steering wheel, labeled M1 and M2. You can link that to your ideal configuration. Also here I can be brief: so do you want to have.
The only nonsensical option to the timer program to choose. In a container with a dual-clutch such as the M4, you can seamlessly switch. That is super fast and efficient, but in the heaviest mode lets the software the link blows. It is clear to hear by the bandengepiep to switch. That in itself is funny, but if the ESP is on or half off (MDM mode) then engages the ESP on some of the moments in and keep the car in. That is even slower and then it becomes even more of a gimmick than it already was.
Conclusion, prices, competition
Mercedes-Benz has just the C-class replaced, but a new AMG version is not yet announced. Audi has the RS4 and RS5, but that both of them already a bit longer. In short: BMW has more or less only the rich in the segment. Also the price is thanks to the mainly paper-lower CO2 emissions are also relatively friendly: the M3 sedan is from to € 104,000, and for the M4 coupe you need to a minimum of € 105.000,- to take. Movie!
Gallery: BMW M4
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