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Best of the Current BMW Model Lineup

BMW continues to be a globally trusted brand when it comes to consistently delivering exceptional luxury sports cars.

In their pursuit of being a leader in innovation and design, the Bavarian company is ever-present around the world with production facilities in 15 countries and a massive global sales network. This has enabled them to keep their finger on the pulse of the many markets they participate in, bolstering their commitments to continually improve their products.

Despite their ongoing evolution, the lineup of BMW vehicles remains familiar and recognizable – with the BMW M series of cars continuing to showcase the company’s high-performance offerings. Other cars, such as the BMW Z4 and BMW i8 offer more unique tastes from the brand; respectively bringing to life, the company’s philosophy in roadster and hybrid form.

For 2021, BMW has opted not to unsettle the status quo too much, with virtually all models remaining largely unchanged since 2020. This is with one key exception though, in that a newly designed M3/M4 (also available in Competition trim) has been released this year. The incoming products ushered in the 6th generation of BMW’s most popular performance model.

Like any of the other mainstream car manufacturers today, BMW is hunkering down on being innovative in order to stay relevant. The next generation of BMW vehicles is set to diversify the brand with a number of new performance and all-electric vehicle debutants – such cars are already available for pre-orders, so there will indeed be something for everyone.

Here are the best brand new BMW models you can purchase today.

BMW M3/M4 Competition

BMW has refreshed the M3 sedan and M4 coupe for 2021, and the 6th-gen siblings remain as driver-focused as ever. By not caving in to conventional wisdom – and in doing so, honoring the wishes of its enthusiast fanbase – BMW is offering the base versions of the cars with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. By all important metrics, the M3/M4 are superior cars to their predecessors in every regard; a bump in power, a better chassis, fresh styling, and more luxuries all coming together in a very formidable looking and high-performing package.

The Competition version of the incoming generation is going to be my pick of the lot. Besides the notable increase in power and torque over the regular M3/M4, the Competition models will exclusively have the option of adding xDrive all-wheel drive. BMW has promised that the rear-biased system will offer all of the traction benefits, without any drawbacks on the thrill-o-meter. Inevitably, the potent power plant was decidedly a better match for the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission. While this may not be the purists’ first choice, the Competition models are better equipped for those who find lap times to be the more pressing matter at hand.

BMW M2 CS

The BMW M2 CS is the company’s interpretation of the ultimate sport compact car – and it’s a pretty damn good one at that. As a step above the already capable M2 Competition, the CS offers more power and improved performance. Oh, and a manual transmission too. Automotive purists, rejoice! The M2 CS also comes with slightly tweaked looks, and is the smallest super-fast sports car from BMW right now. The car features a twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine that makes 444 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque – that’s a bump of 34 additional horsepower over the Competition model.

It looks to be the perfect car for track-junkies who are also purists; the M2 CS has all the attributes to be clipping apexes with aplomb, while providing those perpetually satisfying 3-pedal gear shifts that few cars being produced today are capable of. As a quintessential M car, the M2 Competition still comes with enough practicality to be a great daily driver, too.

BMW i4 M50 xDrive

In the introduction, we mentioned that electrification is the next step towards BMW’s vision for the future; it appears that this future is now upon us, and that this vision is now a reality. The BMW i4 M50 xDrive is one of a number of fully electric BMW vehicles set to debut in the short term. The M50 has the distinction of being the very first (and only, for now) BMW EV to part of the M family. With that said, you can be confident that this car will have all of the performance credentials required for it to be a contemporary within this distinguished group of automobiles.

The easiest comparison that can be made with the sporty sedan is that it offers M3-like performance with an all-electric drivetrain. An 84 kWh battery pack and two electric motors, through which 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque can be produced certainly backs up those claims, while putting it in direct competition with the Porsche Taycan 4S and Audi e-tron GT. BMW has also claimed range figures of around 250 miles, compared to 300 miles that the more tame and economical i4 eDrive40 (the platform on which the M50 is based) is capable of. The BMW i4 M50 xDrive is not on public roads yet, but you can certainly order one today. The base price of the M50 is around $4,000 less than the entry-level M3 – something to ponder, while we wait for deliveries to begin early in 2022.

BMW M5 CS

If you’re in the market for an M5, it’s really a no brainer – for us, anyway – to spend the wee-bit extra to step up to the M5 Competition. Just a touch more powerful, the M5 Competition comes with 617 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Where you really get your money’s worth is through the stiffer dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars, and a .28” lower ride height. All things considered the M5 Competition is a sharper, stiffer, and an even more performance-oriented version of the M5.

The Competition model gets a new full Merino leather color scheme, a new Track drive mode, and new shock absorbers. These dampers benefit from a recalibrated control system that BMW says should improve ride comfort, especially at high speeds. Still not enough? Well, there also happens to be a new range-topping CS model for the M5 which puts out an additional 10 hp, for a grand total of 627 hp. That’s nothing to write home about, but where the CS truly begins to differentiate itself is on the scales; it’s some 230 lbs less than the Competition model, thanks in large part to a strict diet of carbon fiber.

BMW X5/X6 M

More practical than the M5 sedan, the 2021 BMW X5 M is a beast that can easily handle any family-oriented duties you can throw at it. Ignore anyone that tells you these are “track capable” performance SUVs – even in the optional Competition trim – because nobody spending this kind of money is keen to take it to a track. What they are however, is serious performance, packaged in an luxury SUV body that has coupe-like agility. It might be more of a kid hauler than a weekend warrior, but it’s epic all the same.

Like the X5 M, the 2021 X6 M is available in both regular and Competition trims, and is mechanically identical to its sibling. Both the non-Competition models make 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. When in Competition trim, the SUVs crank out 617 horsepower and the same 553 lb-ft torque. Sound familiar? That’s because they’re equipped with the same engine used in the M5 Competition. Even more epic. Updates for 2021: Mechanically unchanged, with some new standard features such as Android Auto. Previously optional items such as roof rails, night vision, and rear-seat entertainment have been eliminated, however.

September 28, 2021 / Comments Off

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The 5 Best BMW M3’s of All Time

Certain car brands have their typical stereotypes: Volvo is known for their world-renowned safety; Volkswagen is synonymous with ‘stance’ or the excessively lowered suspension lifestyle, and Subaru owners love to vape.

In the European car world, one brand has the reputation of being ‘The Driver’s Car’ and it’s in a lovely place called Bavaria… Wherever that is. Locally known as ‘Bayerische Motoren Werke’, we enthusiasts are more familiar with their acronym: BMW.

That honour was earned through the desire of destroying the competition and in turn, created one of the best cars in modern history: The BMW M3. Built because of an eligibility rule, BMW set forth in becoming the greatest German car in motorsport, even if there were risks that it would flop in sales. Thankfully, it didn’t, and a legend was born.

So with that in mind, let us now educate you and relive the history of greatness. Here are the best M3 cars of all time.

E36 (1990 to 2000)

The second iteration of the M3 brought classiness and refinement that the first generation didn’t have (more on the first generation later on).

The reason why the E36 is the 5th best M3 is that compared to the entire lineage, it didn’t look that good. Sure, it brought the 3.0L inline-six engine to the world and it was drastically different from the first M3, but it looks awkward, bulky, and out of place, especially compared to the later models. It was a step in the right direction, but it was in need of refinement.

We think it’s best that we say our thanks to the E36 and quickly move on.

E90/92/93 (2007 – 2013)

The mid-2000s brought the best in companies: the world gave birth to the Audi S4, the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG, and the E90 BMW M3. This particular generation had a delicious, buttery, high-revving S65 V8 engine. Producing 414bhp, it loves to ride the redline and asks for more.

Even though it had a chunky V8 at the front, the balance was poised and had precise steering compared to the competition.

In a famous Top Gear episode, Richard Hammond picked the BMW M3 and crushed the competition around the track as the Audi was prone to AWD understeer, and the C63 AMG was just too much to handle around the bends. The BMW was a perfect mix of power and handling, which were backed up by results.

The looks were mixed, but it looks way better than the E36 and considering it was created at the same era as the (in)famous ‘Bangle Butt’, we think that the E90 got lucky on this one. The chassis code was dependent on the body-style with the sedan, cabriolet, and wagon having their own codes, respectively. It may be confusing, but it’s nothing compared to what’s coming later on.

This generation stepped up from the plucky inline-six it had before and has a modern silhouette that still looks new a decade later. As we move further up into the echelon, however, the real legends emerge and are timeless classics.

E30 (1985–1992)

For the die-hard fans, bet you didn’t expect this coming? I can feel the comment box lighting up. But let us create some controversy!

Yes, the E30 is the genesis for one of the greatest sports car in the world. The 1985 3-series was rebuilt inside and out to defeat the Mercedes 190E in DTM or the German Touring Car series. Because of homologation, BMW had to create a roadworthy version of the M3 racing car to compete and they did it in a spectacular fashion. BMW made mincemeat out of Mercedes in DTM and ruled British Touring Car, and much other racing series. The E30 M3 was created out of necessity and it was a great success.

It’s not the best because of the spartan nature it presented: it was a pure race car, and nothing else. For the purists, it’s the best M3 but the generations that are left in this article will definitely put up a fight to be known as better than grandpa.

F80 (2014 – Present)

Alright, so here’s where the real fun begins. So the F80 replaced the V8 road-chomper that we all know was the E90 series.

Due to changing times and emissions regulations, the V8 was no more and we ushered in a new era of forced induction with a twin-turbo inline six. Complete with a body redesign, this was the new design language for BMW’s future. It is paving the way for the future generations but still remembering their heritage, continually being known as ‘The Driver’s Car’.

The F80 design looks absolutely stunning and the twin-turbo setup produces more power than the V8 it replaced while using less fuel. It is truly the best of both worlds, but be careful if you’re a wealthy socialite and ordering your first BMW M3 coupe on the phone because that doesn’t exist!

What? What do you mean?

Well, to accompany the new design language, BMW also overhauled their model lineup in an elegantly confusing fashion. Let the great people at Cartelligent.com demonstrate:

BMW currently assembles its lineup into 10 distinct groupings. The sportier coupe-style are designated by even numbers (2 Series, 4 Series and 6 Series) while the sedan-style models are given odd numbers (3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series):

2 Series – A smaller two-door model available as either a coupe or convertible

3 Series – A compact four-door model available as a sedan, sports wagon or Gran Turismo

4 Series – A compact coupe-style model available as either a two-door coupe or convertible or a four-door Gran Coupe

5 Series – A mid-size four-door model available as a sedan or Gran Turismo

6 Series – A mid-size two-door model available as a two-door coupe or convertible, or a four-door Gran Coupe or ALPINA Gran Coupe

7 Series – A full-size four-door model available as a sedan or ALPINA sedan

So what you really want is the new BMW M4. Unless you want a 4-door, then you can get the M3. Or maybe a gran coupe 4-series instead because it comes with 4-doors?

E46 (2000–2006)

So now, we have reached the top: The King of the Mountain. The bold claim of being the best M3. Ever.

Produced to replace the awkward E36, the E46 ruled the sports world for six years in a land that had bland and subpar competition: The B5/B6 Audi S4 had a lot of engine issues especially with the V8 variety, and Mercedes W203 of the same vintage was garbage due to their partnership with Chrysler at the time.

The E46 was in a league of its own: it possessed the chiseled good looks that the E36 didn’t have and didn’t look bubbly like the E90. It had the inline-six that was lighter than the V8 and can be bought with the six-speed slushbox (don’t bother with the SMG transmission). It had mechanical steering and not a lot of electrical helpers or ‘nannies’ that the later generations had to have.

Other plus sides: It can be picked up for relatively cheap compared to E30 M3’s, which are car museum prices (might as well get a 993 Porsche, gasp!), and not dirt-cheap like E36 which attracts the crowd you don’t want to buy a used car from. The F80 is getting high at prices after options, while the E90 M3 is slightly more expensive used compared to an E46.

It was more advanced than the E30 that came before it, but not as bloated as their successors. It was the perfect mix of luxury and raw driving purity. It had the best of both worlds, and that’s why it’s the best one.

February 7, 2018 / Comments Off

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