The latest BMW M3 and M4 models go on sale later this month, and the German manufacturer has put its sporty offspring on a strict weight-loss regime to extract even greater performance.
Weight-savings of up to 80kg on the latest generation of the M3 and M4 have resulted in a substantial improvement in fuel consumption figures. The latest twin-turbo six-cylinder powered models are more powerful than their V8 predecessors, rising from 416hp to 427bhp. However, as a result of improved power-to-weight ratio, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by up to 28 per cent. BMW claim this has the potential to make a full tank of fuel last a further 100 miles.
The savings have come in part from all-aluminium front ends, and the use of magnesium and carbon fibre in the structure and drivetrain.
The desire to minimise weight has also influenced the decision not to add the xDrive all-wheel-drive system to the latest M Sport models.
BMW’s head of M Sport product management Carsten Pries said: “What is the point of taking out 80kg if you are going to put 75kg back through xDrive? It does not mean that we will not have xDrive in an M model in the future. But many M3 customers like to take part in track days and they prefer the feeling of rear drive”
“We want to be in a different league for power-to-weight”, continued Pries, “but we prefer to have a car that weighs 1000kg rather than one with 1000bhp”.
Both models go on sale from 21 June, with the M3 starting from £56,175 and the M4 from £56,635. A new M4 Convertible will join the range in September starting from £60,745.
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