Autoblog First Drive - 2015 M3 & M4

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First Ride: 2015 BMW M3 and M4 - Autoblog

Both the M3 four-door and M4 coupe felt undeniably stuck to the pavement, even through slaloms that were taken aggressively at high speeds and with the cones set a little closer together than is the norm. Phase for phase, things happen at lower revs on these new Ms versus their naturally aspirated V8 predecessors, so this lends itself to more poise throughout the experience. The newly designed biturbo engine is attached right up against the exhaust manifold for exhaust-gas recirculation quickness and efficiency, while the intercooler is now atop the engine instead of in front of it, also for quicker delivery to the intakes of the coolest possible air. At lower revs, too, the turbos are kept spinning so that lag is essentially gone from the equation.

And that's what we were feeling. This new M3 and M4 feel a bit like they are constantly at the ready, sinews tensed, chassis scraping at the pavement instead of coasting over it. Whereas the previous M3 lineup has been at times characterized as feeling a little heavy with a little too much dance in it, these new cars are determined to help BMW take back some of its aggression in the midsize segments. The new tubular steel front and rear axle carriers are bolted straight to the chassis with no dense rubber bushings anymore, so we were feeling all of the energy thrust in the chassis as the tech folks had described.



Will the new six-speed manual be coming over to what is traditionally a great manual market for this level of sports car – the United States? BMW USA has said no a couple times, but today's information dump of specs doesn't rule it out. The latest M-DCT transmission is a nice piece of work, but this is the M3 and M4, and they would do nicely here with an available manual for that vocal 10 percent of buyers.

Deliveries start in spring of 2014 for both cars. They are so much alike in M format – versus the standard cars that have distinct differences – that we scratch our collective head a bit over the prospect of the M4 coupe and convertible being perhaps significantly more expensive even than what we postulate here in the Vital Stats versus the M3.

Other than those quandaries, let the planning for the inevitable intense head-to-head comparos begin.

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