M3/M4 [Official] 2021 BMW M3 and M4 [G80 & G82]

[manuelf]

Color combination of those bucket seats looks dope! Want.

 

[advantage20]

 

[martinbo]

Kith my ath?

 

[advantage20]

Kith my ath?

Ith thith the real life? Ith thith jutht fantathy?

 

[SKY]

I wonder how an all-black M4 with a honey comb grille would look like. Don't think the horizontal bars are doing the huge grille any favour...

 

[Rolf]

I thought so even before, but the side by side convinces me even more, that someone at BMW was massively influenced/inspired by the Giulia - the vertical grill, the squished fruit headlights, the prominent dead space between the headlights and grill. All of which is 180 from the current BMW 3/5/7 designs.

I am not a big fan of the Giulia's design either (coincidentally for the last 2 of those 3 elements), but it has a certain flare which was lost in the Italian to German translation.

But what I don't really get is - M3 is the original, it defined the category, why be influenced by a newcomer. It would be like if 911 copied the R8 after the R8 came out instead of sticking to its own design.

If you look at the history of the introduction of the M3 in 1985/1986, it was a direct response from BMW M division to the successful reception of the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 launched at 1983/1984, using an almost identical configuration engine, 2.3ltr inline4 16valve DOHC but it was a sportier 2dr body with even more focus on been a keen drivers car.

Ok back to the M3/M4 I agree with you about the Alfa influence as especially the QF sells far less yearly than the M3/M4 models anyway, so why would BMW borrow some of Alfa styling elements?. I think that during the years both Alfa and BMW have been stepping foot in each others strengths. The Alfa models from the 60's and 70s were well known for their unbeatable and highly characteristic engines and sporty driving experience. BMW emulated this in the 80's and then 90's with their class leading engines/powertrains and class beating driving dynamics. Alfa saw the success of the 3-series first E30 and then E36 and brought its rival models 155 and then the very attractive and excellent driving 156 was really brought Alfa back to the forefront of sports saloon design and desirability. Since the 156 was introduced, they always were much more attractive than the equivalent 3 series models but ultimately as an allrounder and from reliability, service, customer satisfaction point of view could not touch the BMW including in sales.

BMW have lost some of their previous mojo in my honest opinion, the competition has caught up hugely for the 3-series, even C-class and A4 have sold more in many markets and some rivals are better to drive, new Giulia and XE Jaguar have been mentioned in the press and now Korea is making an attack with the G70 and Stinger as better value and highly credible alternatives.

So maybe they needed some extra flare in the M3/M4 to bring in some needed excitement and controversial comment.

 

[LaArtist]

Wtf is this mike tyson edition?

Kith me now??

 

[Sunny]

If you look at the history of the introduction of the M3 in 1985/1986, it was a direct response from BMW M division to the successful reception of the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 launched at 1983/1984, using an almost identical configuration engine, 2.3ltr inline4 16valve DOHC but it was a sportier 2dr body with even more focus on been a keen drivers car.

I know 190E 2.3-16 came before the E30 M3. But there were other sporty sedans/coupes before that too, so you could just go on endlessly back in time... you have to put the marker somewhere. And to me, E30 M3 put the segment on the map.

BMW have lost some of their previous mojo

Some? Almost all. We have a F31 328. WIth the exception of the engine, everything you think a good driver's car should have is bad - rubbery steering, floaty suspension, grabby brakes, jerky throttle. It is a nice family car, but a horrible driver's car. But that was exactly BMW's "mojo" - good practical cars that was also fun to drive. Now it is not fun anymore. I didn't sour on BMW without good reason.

So maybe they needed some extra flare in the M3/M4 to bring in some needed excitement and controversial comment.

IMHO, they should have focused on how the car drives and the engineering behind it to induce the needed excitement, not funky "look at me" design.

ps. Not saying the new M3/4 is not fun to drive, I obviously don't know that yet. But if it indeed is, that is all it needed and if it is not, the stupid grill is not going to save it either. All IMO.

 

[dalab]

BMW emulated this in the 80's and then 90's with their class leading engines/powertrains and class beating driving dynamics

Actually, this issue BMW started long before the 80" in my country (or let's say globally), when I had the use of reason, BMW was already imposed in this sense of being the car to have for everything that 2002 had shown (previous models were rare outside of Europe).

"It was in 1968 when the first BMW 2002 with a 2-liter engine appeared, and 100 CV of power, which were more than enough to launch this BMW in the kilometer with a standing start, in 32.4 seconds"
Although it coexisted with the Alfa GT Junior, (which also abounds in my country) and that even I like it better, it was BMW that took the laurels, because when you have a perfect car but one of your competitors also, you must do something else and BMW did it, put dealerships all over the world, did better marketing, etc, in a word it exploited its earned fame much better than the others, keeping it stable for decades until today, and there is the big difference.

Another example you mention of the 2.3-16 that came out a year earlier and was perhaps the best car in the world? But it was the M3 that won the fight, for giving that something else, which explains the recognition of the brand in the world

 

[manuelf]

Some? Almost all. We have a F31 328. WIth the exception of the engine, everything you think a good driver's car should have is bad - rubbery steering, floaty suspension, grabby brakes, jerky throttle. It is a nice family car, but a horrible driver's car

While I do agree with your statement regarding the F3x (which also would be valid for the F1x, which was far too heavy and also numb), one also has to confess, that this generation was a glitch. Every 3 series generation up to/including E9x was class leading in terms of handling, agility, fun ... and the G2x is again!

 

[Matski]

If you look at the history of the introduction of the M3 in 1985/1986, it was a direct response from BMW M division to the successful reception of the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 launched at 1983/1984, using an almost identical configuration engine, 2.3ltr inline4 16valve DOHC but it was a sportier 2dr body with even more focus on been a keen drivers car.

Neither manufacturer set out to have a commercial sales success by making a high performance variant, both cars were what they were, and evolved the way they did because they both had a similar purpose and built (in the end) with the same rule book in mind - racing. Cosworth made the 2.3 & 2.5 engines because Mercedes wanted it to be competitive in motorsport, not because they thought it would sell well. I believe the 2.3-16 was a little tamer than the M3 as a road car because at the outset it was destined for Group B rallying - which would have allowed for more modification to the race cars without the need for road homologation. The M3 was intended for Group A homologation which meant more of the modifications had to be in place when it came from the factory. As it happened Mercedes realised the 190E wasn't going to be competitive in rallying because Audi changed the game with 4WD.... so Mercedes made the car a Group A touring car instead. Touring cars like the RS500, 240 Turbo, and most of the rally cars that at the time were all in the 2-2.5 litre range also.

 

[Sunny]

While I do agree with your statement regarding the F3x (which also would be valid for the F1x, which was far too heavy and also numb), one also has to confess, that this generation was a glitch. Every 3 series generation up to/including E9x was class leading in terms of handling, agility, fun ... and the G2x is again!

I haven't tried the G2x, so that is good to hear. But in my honest opinion, it is a case of too little, too late - the window for an ICE family car* is over, at least where we live and our usage patterns. It makes absolutely no sense, when you can get an EV that is cheaper to own, less maintenance, more reliable, more practical and performs better.

*The only exception I would make are cars that are exceptional to drive - NA, manual, RWD. Obviously, a G2x with turbo and slush box doesn't cut it. A M3 with manual? May be, I am hopeful.

 

[tristatez28lt1]

I saw this today and thought it was stunning. Wish BMW would have done it.

 

[LaArtist]

I saw this today and thought it was stunning. Wish BMW would have done it.

Wow that looks amazing

 

[bmwz4coupe]

I saw this today and thought it was stunning. Wish BMW would have done it.

And where will the number plate be located...?

 

[dalab]

And where will the number plate be located...?

Exactly, designing without compromises is easier

 

[Matski]

And where will the number plate be located...?

 

[SCOTT27]

Prefer the original.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

I saw this today and thought it was stunning. Wish BMW would have done it.

Much prefer that grille size than what we end up getting. It'd be intimidating without being comical.

 

[SCOTT27]

More Scoops than Ben & Jerry’s. Or since we are imitating Italy? Gelato.