Few manufacturers are as good at producing performance cars as BMW, which has a rich history of producing its stunning ‘M’ models.
While it’s the M3 and M5 that might be best-known, the firm has had to expand its range over the years as it adapts to meet the demands of buyers – meaning more SUVs and even GT cars.
So if you’re looking at a new performance car, it’s worth taking a look at the BMW M line-up. Here’s what’s available…
M2 – from £52,405
Arguably one of the best drivers’ cars around, the BMW M2 is the firm’s smallest ‘M’ model, but one that’s thrilling to drive. It’s available in Competition guise, which produces 405bhp, or in an even hotter CS guise, which sees the power increased to 444bhp, allowing for a sub-four second 0-60mph time.
M3 – from £59,905
A new BMW M3 is only just around the corner, but if you act quickly you’ll still be able to pick one of the last versions of the outgoing generation. While lacking all the tech on the latest BMWs, it importantly delivers on the driving front, with its six-cylinder 3.0-litre petrol unit producing 425bhp – allowing a 0-60mph sprint time of 425bhp.
M4 – from £67,435
BMW keeps teasing its new M4, but for the time being you can still get your hands on the outgoing version of one of BMW’s most popular M cars. It’s a striking two-door model that you can choose as either a coupe or a convertible – the latter being one of the best performance drop-top models around.
M5 – from £100,850
The M5 is perhaps BMW’s best-known M model – dating back to 1984. We’re now in the sixth-generation of the M5 and it’s now just available in a hot ‘Competition’ guise. With this, it features the most powerful engine ever featured in a BMW M car – a mighty 616bhp 4.4-litre V8, which enables a 0-60mph time of just 3.1 seconds. It’s also the most recently updated BMW M model (at the time of writing), as it benefits from the changes seen on the latest 5 Series – such as slimmer headlights, a larger 12.3-inch media screen and more standard kit.
M8 – from £123,470
Sitting right at the top of BMW’s performance car line-up is the M8 – an all-new model for 2020 that’s based on the 8 Series grand tourer. It features the same engine as the M5, and with a 0-60mph time of three seconds, it’s the quickest BMW around. You can choose it as either a coupe or convertible, or as a more spacious four-door Gran Coupe variant.
X3 M Competition – from £79,030
SUVs are a big part of BMW, and it’s not surprising the firm has started launching more performance versions of some of its core models – ones like the X3 M Competition. Based on the sensible X3, BMW’s M engineers stick a mighty 503bhp 3.0-litre engine under the bonnet, which is a powerful unit. If you want an M-badged BMW SUV, the X3 is your cheapest option, even if it might cost nearly £80,000.
X4 M Competition – from £81,950
Coupe-like SUVs are big business, with the majority of premium car makers now offering these sleeker models. BMW was the frontrunner, though, with its X6 first and then the X4. This features the same engine as the X3 M, but wraps it in a more stylish body, though with slightly compromised practicality.
X5 M Competition – from £110,650
If you want a powerful BMW M car, but need something roomy for all the family, the X5 M Competition is a very appealing way of choosing something practical. With aggressive styling, a high-quality interior and of course its mega 616bhp 4.4-litre V8, it’s one of the most capable SUVs around.
X6 M Competition – from £113,350
The original coupe SUV, the BMW X6 is a model that divides opinion, and even more so in ‘M’ guise. However, if you want something big, imposing and monstrously quick, few things are as noticeable on UK roads as the X6 M. A 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds is also astonishing for something of this size.
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