M aficionados who know their M options and drive modes have plenty to savour thanks to what BMW says are more ways to customise the cars. Option packs comprise Comfort, M Carbon, Visibility, Technology Plus, M Pro and Ultimate. The M Pro focuses on track driving with its carbon-ceramic brakes and M Driver goodies. It’s the ideal accompaniment for the equally new M Drive Professional control system which includes a lap-timer and data recorder along with the M Drift Analyser so you can see just how good you are when going sideways. A new standalone option is carbon-reinforced composite bucket seats that save almost 10kg over the standard offering.
And, yes, for the first time in the history of the M3 you can get either saloon or coupe versions with all-wheel-drive. The xDrive system is aimed at endowing the car with more traction and directional stability, while switching off the DSC will disconnect the multi-plate clutch so all power goes to the rear wheels only. The M3 and M4 Competition xDrive models arrive later, from summer 2021.
Also coming later will be the first M3 Touring estate – with all-wheel-drive, quite the Audi RS4 quattro rival – along with a convertible, Gran Coupe and likely new CS versions.
For now though we have the four door, five-seat M3 saloon (from £74,755) and the two-door, four-seat M4 coupe (from £76,055) and both are due to hit UK roads next March. Look out for the new colours – Sao Paulo Yellow, Toronto Red and Isle of Man Green. They might even make you forget that new grille…