2018 BMW M4

By Alex Forrest

Shock is the only word to describe the response among enthusiasts following BMW’s move in 2014 to replace the M3’s sonorous 4.0-litre V8 with a smaller, 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged six cylinder engine. 

In fact, it was only the collective gasping from BMW buffs which exceeded the prodigious air induction rate of the new M3’s turbos. 
       
However, the six has its upsides. It has more power and a lot more torque, is more fuel efficient with fewer emissions, is lighter and has a better spread of torque across the rev range. 

At the same time this new generation F82 M3 was introduced, there was also a change in nomenclature. From 2014, the M3 badge would refer to the four-door sedan and the M4 is the two-door. 

The first of the six-cylinder F82 M4s felt heavier and less finessed than the lithe little E92 V8 they superseded. Sure, the early F82s were comfortable on the road, but for the track they could have been tauter and more nimble. 

Thankfully, the 2018 M4 has been sharpened up significantly, and so has its pricing. 

BMW has added a Pure edition of the M4 to the range, which is a more affordable version of the M4 with some of the luxury items removed, but with most of the performance gear of the BMW Competition Package retained. 

The three settings of the adaptive suspension in the M4 Pure (Comfort, Sport, Sport+) have been changed so the Comfort setting in the Pure equates to the regular M4’s Sport mode. So Sport+ in the new M4 is particularly sharp. 

The Competition pack includes the more powerful engine (up 14kW to 331kW), stiffer suspension and sports seats, though the M4 Pure gets a unique set of 19-inch black alloy wheels. 

The term ‘affordable’ depends on your perspective though, because the M4 Pure still costs $154,400 drive away. By new M4 standards, that’s cheap, but by most people’s definition, it’s understandably far from it. 

For some though, this will be a small price to pay to get what is arguably the best combination of road and track performance we’ve seen yet in this generation of the BMW’s long-running sports coupe.