This really wasn’t a surprise as BMW made it clear that M3 an M4 will get an all wheel drive versions sooner or later. It looks like they decided for that ‘sooner’ option as the all wheel drive variants are allready scheduled to hit the roads this July. The xDrive option will only be available on the Competition variants, exclusively equipped with an 8 speed automatic gearbox. That means, that you get the full 510 HP and 650 Nm of torque from the most powerfull version of the great S58 twin turbo straight six, and a huge traction comming from the M-specific all wheel drive system, to match.
”From 0 to 100 km/h in under 3,5 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h”
This is enough for a quoted dash to 100 km/h in just 3,5 seconds, which is 0,4 seconds faster than rear driven competition models. Why do we say quoted? Because recently, BMW started to underestimate its cars on paper, probably to perform better than expected in reality. Some testers even got as low as 3,6 seconds to 100 km/h on the rear wheel drive variants, so we are quite sure that an all wheel drive variant will be quicker than quoted. For those not interested in acceleration numbers, there is also a 290 km/h top speed and purely 2WD driving mode, like on the bigger M5 and M8’s for those looking also for a bit of old school fun.
BMW didn’t just put in a regular xDrive system and call it a day either. This M xDrive is predominantly rear biased, with a 4WD Sport mode sending even more power to the rear. The system features an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch in the transfer case for smoothly adjustable, fully variable distribution of drive torque between the front and rear wheels. Both the M3 and M4 Competition xDrive models also come equipped with an Active M differential as standard, specially engineered drive- and output shafts, as well as a transfer case which features a bespoke control unit.
As we said, the first exaples of BMW M3 and M4 Competition xDrive will allready be storming the German Autobahn this July, with other markets following in August.
