BMW M – MalaysianMotoring

Not content with just the flagship M8 and M8 GranCoupe, BMW Group Malaysia also introduced two more accessible variants to the M lineup in the form of the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition. These two machines are targeted more at customers who need a splash of practicality to go along with their driving thrills, as despite their raised ride heights and rooflines both the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition are geared at the sort of owners who actually go to the track.

“For over two decades, the BMW X range has been unrivalled in the high-performance mid-size segments, having pioneered some of the most advanced four-wheel drive technology in the industry. Tonight, BMW Malaysia is thrilled to be introducing two additions not just to the BMW X fairy but also the high-performance lineup – the first-ever BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition.”
– Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director, BMW Group Malaysia

The BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition further expands the BMW X portfolio of powerful Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) and Sports Activity Coupes (SAC) respectively. Both bring a whole new level of speed and performance to the segment, with their new BMW M TwinPower Turbo engines capable of 510hp.

In addition to power, the new high-powered SAV and SAC are also equipped with advanced driver assistance systems and intelligent in-car connectivity features. This includes the Driving Assistant Plus that offers optimal support during sporty driving.

The BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition both appear with the characteristically-M design elements, complemented by the sporty aesthetics of the BMW X. The powerful front section of the vehicles are made up of a distinctive front apron and a large, hexagonal air intake – built to ensure optimal ventilation for the front brakes under high thermal loads. The BMW M models also feature adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assistance, along with full-LED taillights as standard.

A long bonnet and wheelbase, steeply-raked windscreen, and slightly-rectangular wheel arches lend the new models an exceptionally sporty silhouette. The M Sport exhaust system – recognisable by its four black-chrome tailpipes, adds an unmistakable sound when going full-throttle and at high-revs. The new BMW M models also run on 21-inch bi-colour M light alloys equipped with Adaptive M suspension.

Black kidney grille surrounds, side gills and wing mirror caps are also standard to the models. Individually, the X3 M Competition features a slim rear diffuser in high-gloss black and an M-specific roof spoiler. The X4 M Competition on the other hand features a black spoiler at the rear.

Both the SAV and SAC feature a number of M-specific components for a more engaging driving experience, improving performance and handling dynamics. The strut brace up front improves stiffness when subjected to strong lateral acceleration. Complemented by adaptive dampers, stiffer stabilisers, an Active M Differential and M Compound Brakes, the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition are some of the sharpest driving tools out there both on the road and on the track.

Both cars are powered by the same 3.0-litre straight-6 twin-turbocharged petrol engine, producing an identical 510hp and 600Nm. Power goes to all-four wheels via an 8-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox capable of lightning-fast gearchanges.

Both cars can hit 100km/h from rest in just 4.1-seconds too – do bear that in mind if you have kids in the back.

The interiors of the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition welcome passengers with an iconic M interior ambience that is both sporty and elegant. Front passengers are greeted with M-branded entry sills, as well as comfortable sports seats with active seat ventilation, lumbar support, and illuminated ‘M’ badging on the headrests. The M leather steering wheel reflects the “superior performance” of both these cars, with shift paddles, red M Drive buttons, and a red start/stop button. The sense of intensity are then complemented further by the redesigned M gear selector and three-level controls for the engine, damper, and steering responses.

Additionally, the new BMW M models include carbon fibre trim, contrast stitching in ‘M’ colours, M seatbelts, pedals, and kneepads. The digital instrument clusters in both cars are also unique to them, with M-specific layouts and formats that are designed to engage and excite.

As these two cars are still activity machines in nature, they’re still reasonably practical. The X3 M Competition offers about 550L with the seats up, but can be expanded up to 1600L with the seats down. On the swoopy-roofed sibling, standard luggage capacity measures in at 525L with a grand total of 1430L available with the rear seats down.

Speaking of the rear seats, the X3 M Competition offers backrest adjustment for the rear-seat passengers, as well as retractable sun-blinds for the rear side windows for added comfort.

Both cars offer a bevy of connectivity and convenience features, such as a colour heads-up display with M-specific displays, and Parking Assistant Plus with Surround View and Remote 3D Service. Infotainment is served up via a 10.25-inch Control Display that can be operated via a central iDrive controller, touch input, or Gesture control. They’re both also offered with ConnectedDrive services as standard, equipping Concierge Services, Teleservices, Remote Services, Intelligent Emergency Call, and Apple CarPlay as standard too. No Android Auto though, but music is played through a Harman Kardon audio system with a 600W amplifier, nine channels, and 16-speakers.

Intelligent assistance systems such as Driving Assistant Plus and Parking Assistant Plus are also bundled into both models, along with Comfort Access with an automatic tailgate. There’s also a wireless charger for smartphones somewhere in the cabin…

The X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition are both available in 6 exterior colours and, depending on the chosen finish, can be had in either black, orange (more like a light-tan), or grey Merino leather upholstery.

The new BMW X3 M Competition and BMW X4 M Competition are available from all authorised BMW dealerships from RM886,551.58 for the former, and RM904,276.60 for the latter. Retail pricing is on-the-road without insurance, as well as a 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty and free scheduled servicing.

GALLERY: BMW X3 M COMPETITION & X4 M COMPETITION MAKE DEBUT AT M TOWN

GALLERY: 2020 BMW X3 M COMPETITION

GALLERY: 2020 BMW X4 M COMPETITION

BMW Group Malaysia decided to usher in the weekend with a bang with the arrival of no less than four new M cars in a bespoke setting they called ‘The Secret Garage at M Town,’ modelled after the secret garage in the M Division headquarters in Munich, Germany.

The flagship introductions of the night were the M8 Coupe and the M8 GranCoupe, the two- and four-door performance flagships of the BMW lineup. The former marks the first-ever ‘official’ M8, with only one prototype of a proposed ‘BMW M8’ in existence locked deep in the BMW M garage. The M8 GranCoupe arrives as an accompaniment for those who want the style, agility and performance, but need a couple of extra back seats as not to completely disregard the practicality demands of daily life.

“At the BMW Group, M is the Most Powerful Letter in the World, as it represents the high-performance vehicles born out of pure passion for motorsports. This fascination for power, speed, and dynamics has put M on the map since 1972. Today, we are pleased to bring together superior aesthetics and unimaginable power via the first-ever BMW M8 Coupe and first-ever BMW M8 GranCoupe, right here in the Secret Garage and M Town.” — Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director, BMW Group Malaysia

The arrival of the M8 marks a whole new level of performance, as it benefits from the most powerful engine developed by BMW M. The M8 Gran Coupe makes use of the same engine too: A 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8 producing no less than 600hp and 750Nm, with power going to all-four wheels via an 8-speed M Steptronic automatic paired to an M xDrive all-wheel drive system. The Coupe can dispatch the century sprint in just 3.3-seconds, while the GranCoupe is only a blink slower.

Drivers of the M8 Coupe and M8 GranCoupe can choose between three different drive modes depending on the mood: There’s ‘Efficient,’ ‘Sport,’ and ‘Sport Plus’ to choose from, which are all pretty self-explanatory. Each mode changes the V8’s response to the pedal, and alters the sound of the flap-controlled exhaust system. There are also paddles behind the steering wheel too, to induce even more aural histrionics (or, you know, for greater control over the performance).

The M xDrive system is worth mentioning too, because it’s no rudimentary all-wheel drive system. It splits torque between the axles depending on the driving conditions and chosen settings, but it is rear-biased by default. The 4WD Sport mode will channel more power toward the rear, while the 2WD mode keeps the power on the rear wheels alone. The 2WD mode can only be activated with the stability control off, to ensure maximum engagement for drivers intent on raising their blood pressure.

Both cars also feature adaptive dampers and a double-wishbone front suspension, while the rear features a 5-point multilink setup. Both the Coupe and GranCoupe come with M Compound brakes with blue brake callipers, along with the M-exclusive integrated brake system (which bundles brake activation, brake boosting, and braking control all in one).

Compared to the cooking BMW 850i M-Sport (which has the same 4.4-litre V8 by the way), the M8 and M8 GranCoupe feature unique flourishes like twin-spar door mirrors, a carbon-fibre roof, flared front wheel arches with M vents (with ‘M8’ on them), an M8 rear diffuser replete with a unique twin-twin exhaust pipes with chrome finishers. The car also rides on 20-inch twin-colour alloys with staggered widths.

The interior of the M8 & M8 GranCoupe (we paraphrase but it’s described as the ‘confluence of luxury and performance’) comes with full Merino leather upholstery, M Sports seats with illuminated M8 logos in the headrests, replete with letter on the dashboard and door cards. There’s also a unique gear-lever and a red starter button (because it’s a performance car, obviously). You’ll also find the BMW Live Cockpit Professional system front and centre, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver, accompanied by a high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen display in the centre, as well as a full-colour heads-up display projected onto the windscreen.

You’ll also find soft-closing doors on both M8s as well as an electric tailgate, while you can also get the car with a Digital Key if you have a supported smartphone from Samsung.

The BMW M8 and M8 GranCoupe also offer quite a bit in the way of active safety: Both cars are equipped as standard with the BMW Personal CoPilot system which bundles in Driving Assistant Professional & Parking Assistant Plus, offering lane-keep assist, side-collision protection, lane-charge warning, cross-traffic alert, reversing assistant, and other little helpful features.

The BMW M8 Coupe and BMW M8 GranCoupe are officially available in Malaysia priced from RM1,452,960 and RM1,455,145 respectively, both on-the-road without insurance and with an SST exemption (50% reduction, as these cars are both fully-imported). For the money you also get a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty, as well as free service throughout the same period.

Befitting a flagship, the new M8 and M8 GranCoupe can be had in as many as 7-colours, while the BMW Individual suite of customisation options also remains open for engagement and a sense of individuality.

If neither of these cars really tickle your fancy, owing to their nature as slinky-roofed style-focused machines, perhaps the BMW X3M Competition and X4M Competition might be more your speed. Launched on the same day, the two new compact M ‘Sports Activity Vehicles; may be more your speed.

But be sure to check out @MsianMotoring for more updates as they come.

GALLERY: BMW M8 COUPE & BMW M8 GRANCOUPE MAKE DEBUT AT M TOWN