Since the launch of the first-generation BMW M3 in 1986, BMW has become a classic benchmark for high-performance cars, and all the models of the past have been loved by fans under the BMW M GmbH. After the advent of the previous generation F80 M3 / F82 M4 6 years later, BMW original factory based on the commercially available G30 3 Series / G22 4 Series, officially announced the 6th generation of the M3 series in September 2020, namely the M3 Sedan codenamed G80, and the new generation of G82 two-door M4 Coupé, the most obvious identification of the new generation is the super large double kidney water tank shroud, and for the horsepower 510 rear-drive automatically set competition models, As well as the M3 / M4 M xDrive models with M xDrive adjustable four-wheel drive system, the entire car series also provides M professional track driving and drift analysis system, M exclusive carbon fiber racing barrel seat, carbon fiber car interior panel and other equipped Racing Package kits are available.
The "big nostrils" really make it highly recognizable, and many high-performance visual elements are added
The new generation M3 can be said to be the most "alarming" feature in appearance, that is, the super large upright double kidney water tank shield at the front of the car, which is jokingly called "big nostrils" by fans. Fans as early as the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show by the BMW Concept 4 concept car, preview the original factory will be "large nostrils" practice in the physical car method, and even the follow-up of the new generation of 4 Series equipped with "big nostrils" after the debut is even more talked about, but 3 Series did not follow up the "big nostrils", the original factory said that this is to highlight the uniqueness and make a distinction.
But interestingly, on the M Power model, which is based on the 3 Series/4 Series, the new generation of M3/M4, we see that both of them use the same super large kidney shape. This time the original factory said that it is mainly for M3/M4 to bring the same "eye-catching" recognition, "large nostrils" are actually considering the actual efficacy of the engine, brakes, cooling system, behind the kidneys is a multi-group large cooling system, which has a power of 1kW large cooling fan, hot exhaust, cold drain, it also pointed out that compared to the general 3 Series/4 Series, M3, M4 related heat dissipation system is more placed to the outside 40mm, mainly to obtain better air and heat dissipation effect Under the water tank shroud is an automatic transmission oil cooler, which is only available on the 8-speed manual Competition rear-drive/M xDrive model, which was imported in China, and the 6-speed manual version is not installed.
In addition to the "big nostrils", the new generation of M Car's track racing style full of clear muscle lines can be seen everywhere, including the bulging hood shape, the aerodynamic side lines and the tail wing design that extends to the rear of the car. The front 19-inch and rear 20-inch M exclusive forged double-spoke wheels, which come standard throughout the series, offer lighter and tougher strength than the previous generation, combined with wider front wheel distances and tire widths for better steering performance.
The large area of the front and lower honeycomb intake dam and the vertical shape of the air intake curtain on both sides of the front bumper also bring better air diversion effect. The M mirrors are aerodynamically designed with aerodynamics and an air-powered kit such as a black high-gloss rear spoiler and M spoiler tail. The roof is also made of CFRP carbon fiber reinforced plastic, which reduces weight and reduces the body center of gravity. In terms of rear, in addition to the black spoiler tail fin in the rear compartment, the new generation M3 also has the M Power model's signature bilateral double exhaust tailpipe at the rear bumper, showing its hidden performance momentum.
Exclusive M Car interface, carbon fiber racing barrel seat cover is fully covered
Coming to the interior of the new generation M3, we can see that its general central control layout is the same as the 3 Series/4 Series, the most important thing is that there are many performance-oriented exclusive atmospheres, especially the test drive with the well-behaved Kyalami Orange interior color, with the Isle of Man Green Metallic green outside the car, showing a rather visual tension contrast. The main cabin is equipped with an iDrive 7.0 interface exclusive to the M Car, using a 12.3-inch digital instrument, a 10.25-inch central control screen, an M steering wheel, and two sets of M shortcut keys on the M steering wheel, which can quickly enter the driving preference state of the vehicle's engine, chassis, steering, brakes and M xDrive system. And in Sport driving mode, the dashboard presets the digital speed and tachometer to the center, and displays instantaneous G-value, oil temperature, turbine pressure, horsepower and torque output on both sides.
The general standard M3 Competition is equipped with a new shape of M sports car seats, and there is an exclusive M3 with 3 color line lighting on the headrest, but this test drive is equipped with a Racing Package kit, so it is also equipped with the "M exclusive carbon fiber racing barrel seat" newly developed by BMW M GmbH, the seat is fully wrapped with lightweight carbon fiber, which is 9.6 kg lighter than the standard M exclusive sports car seat, and the basket design with the racing seat, Its lightweight and tough construction not only emphasizes the support and coverage that is highly needed on the track, but also provides comfort and stability during long-distance driving. However, it is worth noting that because the cover of this seat on the side of the seat cushion is very prominent, it can be said that the "waist force" needs to be said to be a little more difficult when getting on and off the car, which is also a sweet burden on this set of high-covered racing seats. The rear seat is due to the thicker shape of the front seat barrel seat, which has a little less knee space than the typical 3 Series.
The Racing Package kit is also available above the M-model steering wheel and at the trim panels for the centre console, all of which are treated with carbon fiber trim. The Racing Package version also adds M Car's first "Professional Track Driving and Drift Analysis System", which allows owners to record and analyze every taxiing and drifting data while running on the road. The whole vehicle system is also equipped with BMW Personal CoPilot intelligent driving assistance kit as standard, which can open the full speed domain ACC active distance control system, active lane maintenance assistance, etc. in the Road mode, and includes active collision assistance system and pedestrian detection function, driving attention assistance function, blind spot detection warning, lane departure warning, front and rear traffic flow warning, rear collision warning, parking rear collision avoidance assistance, etc., 360 surround view auxiliary photography and remote 3D monitoring. For drivers who sometimes don't want to fight all the time, it is also a blessing for this generation of M3s to have a full set of driving aids to reduce fatigue before the end of the track day or before the start.
510 performance beasts, complex electronic systems, but the driving experience is quite close to the people
The M3/M4 features a 3.0-litre inline 6-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo twin-turbo engine code-named S58, with a maximum horsepower of 510 hp in the Competition edition that can be generated at 6,250 rpm and a maximum torque of 650N.m, which produces a torque plain between 2,750 and 5,500 rpm, with a maximum torque of 100 N .m higher than the previous generation.
And whether it is the M3 Competition or the M4 Competition rear-drive version, it has achieved the best stationary acceleration of all time to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and the vehicle's electronic speed is limited to 250 km/h, but it can be equipped with an optional driving kit and lift the limit to increase the speed to 290 km/h.
The chassis and transmission are all equipped with M exclusive sport differential and M exclusive sports car electronic suspension as standard. In terms of driving mode, in addition to the red M vehicle dynamic setting shortcuts (M1/M2) on both sides of the steering wheel, it allows the owner to quickly remember the personalized driving dynamic settings of 2 sets of preferences. The M Mode driving mode switching function provides a total of three driving modes of Road, Sport, and Track, which will simultaneously change the settings of electronic shock absorber damping, chassis, steering system feedback, and brake response. The gearbox also offers 6 shift modes for different shift reactions, as well as launch Control ejection start. In addition to the Track mode preset to turn off the 1-segment track, the new generation M3 and M4 also have a built-in 10-segment M-traction control system, allowing the driver to fine-tune the tracking system with the least 0-stage intervention and the most 10-stage assist, and enjoy the difference in the rear of the car in the corner. Driving can also further adjust the sensitivity and strength of the brakes in the Comfort and Sport situations.
The gearbox also offers 6 shift modes for different shift reactions, as well as launch Control ejection start. The variety of electronic aids and modes is the advantage of the new generation of high-performance cars, but the "side effect" is that once you sit in the driver's seat, you will be "choice phobia" by this diverse combination of modes.
However, as soon as the author steps on the throttle, the above concerns will be solved, because this generation of M3, no matter what mode, can be said to be quite strong and enjoyable! The biggest change is that the gearbox has also changed from the previous generation of 7-speed M DCT dual clutch to the 8-speed M Steptronic hand-integrated, 8-speed hand-integrated can be said to be easier to approach, less difficult to get started, rather than spending time to adapt to the double-clutch manual approach manual shift rhythm and characteristics like in the past. And although the same is the same 8-speed hand self-integration, but M3 compared to the little brother M340i whether in the up, downshift of the gear of the autonomy, as well as the subjective passion feeling are higher, the gear of the up, down direct, and almost in the automatic mode, you can be very shrewd to help drive the lift gear to correspond to the road conditions, drive up is more handy.
Of course, the key to the gearbox, and the S58 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine, with its powerful 650N .m torque, can be generated at about 3,000 rpm, and with the top-responding gearbox, there will be a strong output almost as soon as the throttle is pressed. And the same powerful 510 horsepower output, high-speed acceleration can bring endless ductility, almost any speed domain will not have any trace of air deficiency, just like the proud martial arts master, the strength is unfathomable, and with the atmosphere of strong output, there is a thick and pleasant 6-cylinder and exhaust sound, absolutely still the charm of the current fuel high-performance car.
What amazes me even more is the M3's overall excellent steering and chassis dynamics. In the past, when experiencing older generation M Cars such as M2 Competition, it can be said that the overall performance is bloody and violent, but the completely competitive orientation is like a beast that needs to be tamed, requiring a certain degree of driving threshold to drive and be close. However, in the new generation of M3 is different, the author originally thought that its rear-drive high horsepower setting, in general, will make its rear dynamics more wild, but did not expect that the general Comfort mode is quite stable and obedient, there is no unexpected sliding, but the strong rear wheel output is more likely to help the front of the car to point to the center.
However, when driving needs to be more lively and flexible rear dynamics, cut to Sport, Sport+ mode, or even through the 10-step adjustment of the M traction control system, the M3 can be said to be able to meet the requirements of various driving, with different degrees of rear-drive characteristics, so that drivers can further try to enjoy the ultimate driving dynamics under a very safe situation, and bend without dragging mud and water. And even if the general agent will be the tire from Pirelli P Zero, replaced by Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, its trackability on the general road is also quite stable, the steering also has a solid and accurate feedback, the original M high-performance compound brake system is not easy to exhaust under intense driving, almost at any time can retain a stable and rapid braking force, the shock absorber adjusted to Sport+ Although the hard school will not be completely hard, it can still eliminate the road undulations to a certain extent and bring excellent support With a balanced front and rear body counterweights, it can be said that it shows the strength to balance daily life and competitive passion.
Unabashed performance is sharp
In summary, in the case of a 5-seater high-performance sedan like the new generation M3, its strength is indeed unfathomable, undisguised in its performance, and even has the potential to approach purebred sports cars such as the Porsche 911 GT3 RS on the track. Of course, in terms of power performance, the successive generations of M3 after many generations of evolution, finally came to 510 horses, 3.9 seconds to break the output and performance, compared to the brand's i4 M50 electric vehicle through the dual motor can bring 544 horses, 3.9 seconds to break the hundred, the traditional fuel M3 does not seem to have a long advantage in the data book, only the speed can be higher than the electric vehicle. But the balance and atmosphere passion brought by this generation of M3 is still evocative, I believe that such a memory is still incomparable to i4, and if you want to grasp the coexistence time of pure oil high-performance cars, you may take advantage of it now.