M4 Coupe

Make
BMW
Segment
Coupe

In case you missed it, BMW pulled the wraps off of not one, but two new high-performance M cars, ready to take on the very best that Audi and Mercedes-AMG can come up with. And on paper, at least, the new 2021 BMW M3 and BMW M4 are better than their predecessors in every single numerical category: more power, more torque, a longer wheelbase, and for the first time ever, available all-wheel drive.

But what about the heart and soul of the new M cars: the sound? A new video gives us our first taste of that, as well, emanating out of the all-new 503-horsepower BMW M4 Competition.

The M4 Competition has a deep, warm-sounding exhaust note at idle, with a nice muscly burble when revved to low RPMs. Whoever was in the captain's chair at the time the video was recorded never really gave it the beans, so unfortunately, we're just going to have to wait to find out how the car sounds at full-chat.

We're going to wager it sounds pretty darn phenomenal.

Unfortunately for purists, the BMW M3 Competition and M4 Competition will be available only with an 8-speed automatic transmission - no manual on offer. The standard RWD versions will launch first in the spring of 2021, followed by AWD xDrive models in the summer.

As with the BMW M5 xDrive, the M3 and M4 Competition models will give drivers a choice between AWD and RWD, with a true RWD mode that's selectable only with Dynamic Stability Control turned off - for those who might get the impression BMW no longer knows how to have fun.

The new 2021 BMW M3 and M4 will officially go on sale in March, with a $69,900 starting MSRP for the 3, and a $71,800 starting price for the 4. The more powerful M4 Competition will start $2,900 higher, at $74,700.