Two years after the launch of the first BMW M GmbH High Performance models for the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle and the BMW X4 Sports Activity Coupé, the BMW M variants of the SAV and SAC for the mid-size segment are now undergoing a comprehensive refresh. In addition to new design features drawn from the BMW X3 and BMW X4, which have likewise been revised, along with M specific changes and a new operating concept, the new BMW X3 M Competitio and the new BMW X4 M Competition also offer increased pulling power. The maximum torque of the 375 kW/510 hp in-line 6-cylinder engine, which has been increased by 50 Nm to 650 Nm, enables a 0.3-second improvement in the standard sprint from 0 to 100 km/h for example, which the BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition now complete in 3.8 seconds. The market launch of the new models is due to start in August 2021. Further fine-tuning of the in-line 6-cylinder engine enables the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition to deliver even sportier performance figures. From standstill, the two models now reach the 100 km/h mark in just 3.8 seconds: this undercuts the level of the predecessor models by 0.3 seconds, putting them on a par with high-performance sports cars. The maximum speed for all three models is electronically cut off at 250 km/h. This limit is raised to 285 km/h in conjunction with the optional M Driver’s Package.
The performance characteristics of the BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition are complemented by the high efficiency of the standard M compound brake system. With four-piston fixed caliper brakes at the front and single-piston floating caliper brakes at the rear, it guarantees excellent deceleration. The brake calipers bear the M logo and are finished in blue as standard or in high-gloss black or red on request. The perforated and internally vented discs have a diameter of 395 millimetres on the front wheels and 370 millimetres on the rear wheels. In the compound design adapted from motor racing, the grey cast iron brake discs are connected to aluminium covers. This design helps the brake system achieve precise dosing, low weight and increased thermal stability. The perfectly coordinated overall package for maximum performance also includes the 21-inch M light alloy wheels with mixed tyres in the sizes 255/40 ZR21 at the front and 265/40 ZR21 at the rear: in conjunction with the rear-wheel-oriented set-up of the M xDrive, this enables particularly intense transmission of lateral guidance forces during dynamic cornering. The new M forged wheel 892M Star Spoke in Jet Black burnished saves 2 kilograms of weight per wheel. As an alternative, the well-known M light alloy wheel 765M V-Spoke is likewise available in Jet Black burnished.
BMW M GmbH previously developed the in-line 6-cylinder engine of the BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition from scratch for the SAV and the SAC in 2019. The most powerful in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine built by BMW with an output of 375 kW/510 hp – now also used in other BMW M models – currently delivers a maximum torque level of 650 Nm in the very latest, further optimised version for the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition, an increase from the previous 600 Nm, and this torque is available between 2,750 and 5,500 rpm. Peak output is reached at 6,250 rpm and is maintained up to the maximum engine speed of 7,200 rpm. The power unit features not only the high-revving characteristics typical of M and M TwinPower Turbo technology but also racetrack-proven cooling and oil supply concepts. The 3.0-litre engine offers unmistakable performance characteristics with typical M linear power delivery and a high level of revving power that runs right through to maximum engine speed. This power goes hand in hand with a striking sound. Sophisticated M TwinPower Turbo technology and the use of two petrol engine particulate filters and four catalytic converters help the high-performance engines achieve outstanding efficiency and an exemplary emissions response.
The standard M sports exhaust system in the BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition enriches the engine sound characteristic of BMW M automobiles with the addition of a distinctly sonorous quality, especially when under intense load and at high engine speeds, thereby giving the sound even more of a motor racing touch for a particularly emotional driving experience – while fully retaining day-to-day practicality. The infinitely variable flaps of the M sports exhaust system allow for a highly varied sound production. The specific sound type is linked to the engine characteristics: here it is possible to select the SPORT and SPORT+ modes in addition to the standard setting. The M Sound Control button on the centre console can also be used to activate an emphatically discreet engine sound.The in-line 6-cylinder engine’s racetrack-proven cooling system is designed to enable an exceptionally high level of output and includes two laterally positioned radiators in addition to the central one. There is also an additional engine oil cooler and a separate transmission oil cooler. T BMW M GmbH motor racing expertise is also evident in the design of the oil supply system, which is geared towards dynamic racetrack operation. The engine’s weight-optimised oil pan has two separate chambers and an integrated suction channel.
The SAV BMW X3 M Competition and the SAC BMW X4 M Competition feature the adaptive M suspension in a specific set-up as standard. Its electronically controlled dampers ensure both a high level of day-to-day comfort and extremely direct road contact, with limited wheel and body movement. The damping forces are ideally suited to cope with every situation on the road and set individually for each wheel at continuously varying levels by means of interior electromagnetically controlled valves. The basic characteristic of the dampers can be influenced at the touch of a button. There are three modes to choose from, each with its own map.The BMW X3 M Competition and the BMW X4 M Competition provide a level of driving dynamics potential that is exceptional in their vehicle segment. Outstanding values in the areas of longitudinal and lateral acceleration, handling and deceleration go hand in hand with a high level of driving stability, neutral self-steering response and comfort characteristics that enhance suitability for day-to-day use and lengthy trips. The basis for this combination of agility, dynamics and precision that is so typical of BMW M automobiles is suspension technology that perfectly matches the high engine output and the M xDrive all-wheel drive system. Optimisation involved extensive test drives, including at the BMW Group’s test site in Miramas in southern France as well as on the Nordschleife at Nürburgring.
