Launched locally in 2020, BMW’s X4 M Competition is a first in its segment and promises excellent performance.
But this reality is a bit different and falls short in the one department it is meant to excel at.
Of course, it is fast in general for an SUV, but in the all-important recognized measured sprint parameter which many manufacturers share the reputation of, in 0 to 100 km / h, X4 M Competition fell well short.
The sub-four-second claim would go even faster if its rival, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S, sits safely in the No. 1 spot with a time of 3.99 seconds, putting it at the top of the pile. But it returns a rather leisurely 4.77 seconds to 100km/h.
In high performance terms, this gap is huge and means the X4 M Competition is off the charts. A massive let down.
Also read: WATCH: BMW X5 M competition leaves the AMG brigade eating dust
BMW set the record straight away
Fast forward a few years and in no time, BMW is ready to launch the updated X4 M Competition.
Reaffirming its performance pedigree, and in the right words, “representing the pinnacle of driving pleasure in the BMW X4 M is the BMW X4 M Competition.
It features numerous drivetrain and suspension technologies inspired by motorsport together with the high-performance M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 375 kW, an incredible 650 Nm of torque and an impressive 0 to 100 km/h acceleration of just 3.8 seconds” .
These power and torque numbers are exactly as before, only the torque band is slightly shorter and slightly higher in the rev range from 2 750 rpm to 5 500 rpm, as opposed to
2 600 rpm (5 900 rpm before). Based on what I saw on paper, I expected worse numbers than before.
But, and it’s a big BUT, one BMW change for the launch control order is going to change this number.
Launch control, if you don’t know, is a software mechanism that allows the car to dial in the best revolutions per minute (rpm) and further control the rotation of the wheels so that the car can get off the line in the fastest way, thus guaranteeing the best sprint time.
Also read: Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT supercar disguised as an SUV
Open the control
Most high performance cars have some form of launch control, because without it you’ll just be turning rubber into expensive smoke and not making much progress. In the case of the BMW, which uses a conventional torque converter gearbox, launch control means going hard on the brakes and floor the accelerator.
Almost immediately you will be shown the flag and message “Launch control active” in the instrument cluster. Take off the brakes and bullet into the horizon. Or not.
You see, in the previous X4 M Competition, the rpm dialed by the car was not high enough, there was no time allowed for any boost so the car was launched in lag and out of boost and took forever to get off the line. .
The 0 to 20 km/h jump from the line tells me everything I need to know how fast the car will be. A fast sports car reaches 20 km/h in about half a second and a hot hatch in about eight-tenths of a second.
The X4 M competition comes in at a full 1.23 seconds for this hop. A bakkie diesel cab is twice as fast off the line than this.
Also read: WATCH: The all-electric Volvo XC40 is an unabashed silent killer
BMW is leading the battle
But the current generation BMW X4 M Competition has a step that says “launch control ready”, and this means that you have to keep your foot on the brake for two seconds longer when the car makes an impulse before you get the “launch control active. ” message, and then just let it go.
Think poked with a cow prod and you will have some idea of how hard this updated X4 M Competition is launched.
From a standstill, 20 km/h is now just 0.45 seconds and 0 to 100 km/h is better than the claimed 3.62 seconds.
Numbers that will see you spend time in jail seeing the X4 M Competition reach the quarter mile in 11.71 seconds at 192.55 km/h, the half mile at 232.55 km/h and the sprint from 100 to 200 km in just 9.39 seconds .
This is enough to move the Merc and give the BMW X4 M Competition bragging rights.
Road test results
| BMW | X4 M race |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2022 |
| Odometer | 22 767 km |
| Test date | 23/01/2023 |
| Test the temperature | 18 degrees |
| POWERTRAIN | |
| Engine capacity | 3.0 liters |
| Induction | Twin Turbocharged |
| Fuel | gasoline |
| drive wheels | AWD |
| Transmission | Eight-speed sports automatic transmission |
| ENGINE OUTPUT | |
| power | 375 kW @ 6,250 rpm |
| Torque | 600 Nm @ 2 750 – 5 500 rpm |
| Mass license | 1 970 kg |
| Power to weight | 190 kW/ton |
| Power to capacity | 125 kW/liter |
| DATA ACCELERATION | |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.62 seconds |
| 1/4 Mile time | 11.71 seconds |
| 1/4 Speed | 192.55 km/h |
| 1/2 Mile time | 18.48 seconds |
| 1/2 Speed | 232.55 km/h |
| Top Speed (Claimed) | 285 km/h |
| 60-100 km/h | 2.05 seconds |
| 80-120 km/h | 2.43 seconds |
| 100-200 km/h | 9.39 seconds |
| FUEL CONSUMPTION DATA | |
| It is claimed to save fuel | 10.7 liters / 100 km |
| Test average | 13.6 liters / 100 km |
| Tank size | 65 liters |
| The range is claimed | 607 km |
| Distance test | 478 km |
| CO2 emissions | 244 g/km |
| TIRE | |
| Size | 255/40 R21 Front / 265/40 R21 Rear |
| Do it | Continental Sports Contact 6 |
| PRICE | |
| Price in test | R2 140 00 |
| Warranty | 3-Year / 100 000 km |
| Maintenance plan | 5-Year / 100 000 km |