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Quick Spin: 2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe

2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe in Isle of Man Green (a $550 option)

2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe

Class: Premium Sporty/Performance Car

Miles driven: 212

Fuel used: 10.5 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 20.1 mpg

Driving mix: 50% city, 50% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 16/23/19 (mpg city, highway, combined)

CG Report Card


Room and Comfort	B-
Power and Performance	A
Fit and Finish	A-
Fuel Economy	B-
Value	C

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	C
Tall Guy	B-

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	503-hp 3.0-liter
Engine Type	Turbo 6-cylinder
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	RWD

Fuel type: Premium gas required

Base price: $74,700 (not including $995 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Isle of Man Green metallic paint ($550), Silverstone/Black Full Merino Leather ($2550), M Drive Professional ($900), 19-inch-front/20-inch-rear M double-spoke bi-color wheels style 826M with performance non-run-flat tires ($1300), M carbon ceramic brakes ($8150), M carbon bucket seats ($3800), carbon fiber trim ($950), M Carbon Exterior Package ($4700), M Driver’s Package ($2500)

Price as tested: $101,095

More 4-Series price and availability information

Quick Hits

The great: Thrilling acceleration; tenacious handling; serious stopping power; upscale interior

The good: Better-than-expected rear-seat space; better-than-expected ride quality for a track-ready super-performance machine

The not so good: Racetrack-ready optional front seats aren’t optimal for everyday driving; polarizing front-end styling; options drive up bottom-line price past the six-figure mark

CG Says:

Now here’s a BMW that feels like a BMW from behind the wheel.

The M4 Competition, the raucous Type-A personality of the 4-Series coupes, shows that the Bavarians have not, after all, misplaced the old family recipe for exhilarating drivers’ cars. A little earlier in the 2021 model year Consumer Guide sampled another 4, an entry-level 430i with xDrive all-wheel drive that left us longing for the rewardingly communicative ride and handling that had been synonymous with BMWs. If you’ve got the money—and it will take a bunch more of it—you can find them in the high-performance M4.

Along with the rest of the BMW 4-Series coupe and convertible lineup, the super-performance M4 is redesigned for 2021 with provocative new styling and several new technology features.

Of course, aside from chassis improvements, a big difference-maker in the M4 is a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-6 engine that makes 503 horsepower in Competition guise—30 more than are harnessed to a “base” M4. With 479 lb-ft of torque, ready and abundant power bursts into bloom with help from the 8-speed automatic transmission that sails smoothly through the gear ranges and delivers sharp kickdown when extra speed is called for. (A 6-speed manual gearbox remains standard with the lower-power M4 engine.) The manufacturer claims the rear-wheel-drive M4 Competition can go from stopped to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Top speed is capped at 155 mph unless the buyer springs for the $2500 M Driver’s Package that enables another 25 mph. In any case, the M4 sounds great under load without rattling windows at start-up. Though CG’s Isle of Man Green M4 had the package we did not test those limits, which is probably why we averaged 20.1 mpg even with 50 percent city-type driving. EPA fuel-economy estimates are 16 mpg in the city, 23 on the highway, and 19 mpg combined.

Test Drive: 2021 BMW 430i xDrive Coupe

The M4’s cabin gets several trim enhancements that give it an appropriately upscale feel. The “standard” M4 is available with a 6-speed manual transmission, but the M4 Competition comes only with an 8-speed automatic.

With a chassis beefed up with an M Sport rear differential, adaptive suspension dampers, and performance tires on 19-inch-front/20-inch-rear wheels, the M4 Competition rides with a buttoned-down firmness but it’s not a constant jiggle-and-jolt fest. Steering is pleasingly precise, not overly heavy in base “Comfort” mode, and with more feel than in the 430i. Body control is great through quick little bends in the road. The low-profile tires are somewhat noisy on the highway and there’s a little bit of a thwacking sound over small cracks and highway expansion joints. The extra-cost (and $8150 is extra cost) carbon-ceramic brakes are strong; on the test car, they behaved in a more linear fashion than the optional M Sport brakes on the 430i we tested.

6 Cool Things about the 2021 BMW M5 Competition

The M4 has better rear-seat space than you might expect for a high-performance sports coupe.

Of course, at $75,695 (delivery included) to start, one has a right to expect a driving experience better than a car that costs $27,100 less can deliver. In fact, the test car wasn’t done until it ascended to $101,095, taken aloft on the wings of some of the aforementioned extras plus things like M Drive Professional (for track-day tinkerers who want to chart lap times, drift angles, and other performance data) and M carbon bucket seats.

Test Drive: 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium

Likewise, trunk space is better than in the typical high-end sports coupe–there’s 12.0 cubic feet of cargo volume here.

The $3800 seats provide so much secure grip on torso and bottom that we almost felt the need to file a complaint with HR. As an added performance benefit the seats take some weight out of the car. However, the built-up bolstered areas don’t allow for easy slide-in/slide-out movement, there is an odd raised structure in the front center of the cushion, and shorter passengers may find that the fixed headrests are too high for their comfort.

The hard-shell premium seats also lack pouches on back for rear-seat storage. However, they do not compromise the adult-compatible back-seat space that is a 4-Series coupe virtue. In line with others in the line, the M4 also has a practical trunk, a virtual gauge display that some find difficult to read easily, menu-happy remotely controlled iDrive 7.0 infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Safety features standard across the series include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, rear-collision preparation, speed-limit monitoring, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Test Drive: 2020 BMW M8 Competition Convertible

The M4 Competition is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder that pumps out 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Staggered 19-inch-front/20-inch rear wheels come standard on the Competition–an upgrade over the base M4’s 18-inch fronts and 19-inch rears. The M double-spoke wheels on our tester are a $1300 option.

Price of admission to get at the best stuff that BMW has to offer may be a deal-breaker for some people, and anybody who can’t tolerate the thought that someone could at any moment be making snide comments about the looks of their 6-figure automobile might not be a good fit for an M4. (Did we mention the grille that everybody mentions?) However, folks undeterred by those challenges may have the right feel for this BMW.

Test Drive: 2020 BMW M340i

Controversial schnoz aside, the new BMW M4 steps up its game over the previous-generation model. It delivers racetrack-ready performance with better day-to-day practicality and tractability than its superhero specs suggest.

Check out the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images

6 Cool Things about the 2021 BMW M5 Competition

Car Stuff Podcast

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on September 27, 2021.

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Forgotten Concept: Chevrolet Nomad

Chevrolet Nomad Concept

This is an installment in a series of posts looking back on show cars that we feel deserved a little more attention than they got. If you have a suggestion for a Forgotten Concept topic, please shoot us a line or leave a comment below.

Chevrolet Nomad

First Shown: 2004 Detroit Auto Show

Description: Small sporty 2-door wagon

Sales Pitch: “A personal vehicle that carries the expressions and emotions of the driver.”

More Forgotten Concepts

Chevrolet Nomad Concept

Details:

First shown at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, the Chevrolet Nomad Concept was a compact 2-door wagon designed to be both sporty and practical. An homage to the Chevrolet Corvette Nomad show car that debuted at the 1954 GM Motorama, the 2004 Nomad was designed around General Motors’ Kappa small sporty-car architecture, which would soon underpin the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky two-seat sports cars. (The Solstice debuted as a 2006 model, and the Sky followed for 2007.)

The Nomad Concept was powered by a turbocharged Ecotec 2.2-liter 4-cylinder that put out 250 horsepower and was paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.

To accommodate cargo loading, the rear glass retracted into the bottom-hinged tailgate. A roof panel over the cargo area could be removed to create space for larger items. Unlike the Solstice and Sky, the Nomad Concept was outfitted with a folding rear seat for ostensible 2+2 occupant capacity, but those back seats must have been extremely cozy.

Forgotten Concept: Chrysler Chronos

Chevrolet Nomad Concept

CG Says:

The problem with concept cars as cool as the 2004 Nomad is that the potential audience is typically limited to auto journalists and diehard enthusiasts. And, auto journalists often tend to buy only used cars.

A shame, as seeing one of these sleek, sporty 2-door wagons on the road would have brought me great pleasure. As there are currently no small wagons available for sale in the U.S., it seems GM made the fiscally prudent decision not to proceed with Nomad as a production vehicle. Still, a new-age retro Nomad would likely have been pretty cool.

The Cars of Hogan’s Heroes

Chevrolet Nomad Concept

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Concept Car Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

2011-2013 Acura TSX Sport Wagon: The Cool, Hip, Euro-Chic Compact Wagon No One Bought

Written by: Tom Appel on July 29, 2021.

2021 Chicago Auto Show: 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R

2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI (left) and Golf R

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI (left) and Golf R

Volkswagen announced complete pricing info for its redesigned 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R high-performance 4-door hatchbacks at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show. The ’22 Golf GTI and Golf R kick off the eighth generation of VW’s long-running compact hatchback in the U.S., and they are the only Golfs we’re getting… the non-performance versions of the Golf have been dropped for the American market and essentially replaced on our shores by VW’s new-for-2022 Taos compact crossover SUV.

CG Says:

If you’re a driving enthusiast, it’s hard not to get excited about a new-generation Golf GTI and Golf R. These Volkswagen hot hatchbacks have long offered an outstanding blend of invigorating performance, daily-driver practicality, and a cool European ambiance that’s a step above the compact-car norm. The redesigned 2022 models promise to continue that tradition in fine fashion, and we especially applaud the fact that a traditional manual transmission is still on offer across the board. However, we have to pour one out for the discontinuation of the “garden variety” Volkswagen Golf—an everyday hatchback that delivered driver’s-car litheness and European flair at a more affordable price point.

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2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R Gallery

(Click below for enlarged images)

: 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

: 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

What Was The Volkswagen Golf Harlequin?

Written by: Damon Bell on July 15, 2021.

Review Flashback: 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Thanks in large part to Chevrolet’s involvement in NASCAR racing, the somewhat anachronistic Monte Carlo outlived its useful life span by half a decade or so. By 2000, the mainstream-brand midsize/large coupe segment was all but gone, with only the coupe versions of the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry (dubbed Solara) still seeing meaningful sales volume.

The sixth—and last—generation of the Monte Carlo debuted for 2000. The Monte rode on General Motors’ W-platform architecture, and was thus similar mechanically to the Buick Century, Lacrosse, and Regal, as well as the Chevrolet Impala, Oldsmobile Intrigue, and Pontiac Grand Prix.

A performance-oriented version of the Monte Carlo, the SS, was available for the entire 2000-2007 run of the last-gen model. For 2000-2006, the SS was powered by a supercharged version of GM’s ubiquitous 3.8-liter “3800” V6. The beefy engine cranked out a middling 240 horsepower, but a substantial 280 lb-ft of torque at just 3600 rpm.

The big news for performance fans was the arrival of a 5.3-liter V8 for 2006. This pushrod V8, also found under the hood of GM’s half-ton pickups, was good for substantially more horsepower (303) and torque (323 lb-ft) than the V6.

Monte Carlos powered by the 5.3 V8 are rather rare, as the engine became available midway through the 2006 model year, and total sales volume for 2006 and 2007—the Monte’s last years—was very low.

Shared below is Consumer Guide’s original review of the 2007 Monte Carlo SS (including the original “News” section at the end of the report, which looks forward to the impending arrival of the reborn Chevrolet Camaro). Noteworthy is the absence of comment regarding the V8 Monte Carlo’s most sinister handling characteristic: torque steer. As this author can attest to first hand, full-throttle acceleration in any V8-powered GM W-platform model resulted in impressive pull to the side and required healthy amounts of driver correction to keep the car on course. You can read all about that torque steer here.

More Review Flashback! fun

2007 Monte Carlo SS Review

Overview

Chevrolet’s midsize coupe shares its basic underskin design with the Impala sedan. Monte Carlo comes in LS, LT, and sporty SS trim. LS and LT have a 211-hp V6 engine. SS has a 303-hp V8 with GM’s Active Fuel Management that deactivates four cylinders while cruising to save fuel. The 233-hp V6 LTZ model is discontinued. All Monte Carlos have a 4-speed automatic transmission. Front side airbags are standard. Curtain side airbags are unavailable. Leather upholstery and heated front seats are standard on SS, available on LT. OnStar assistance is standard.

Torque-Steering Trio: Remembering GM’s “Small Block” Front-Drivers

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo engine specs

Acceleration

Ample power at any speed. Similar test Impalas with 211-hp V6 less strong but still more than adequate in around-town driving. Ethanol-blended fuel, called E85, is available in many states and can be less expensive than regular-grade gasoline. E85 can be used in 211-hp Monte Carlos. Test Impalas showed no difference in acceleration using E85.

Fuel Economy

Test SS averaged 17.2 mpg in mostly city driving. V6 Monte Carlos use regular-grade fuel. Chevy recommends premium for V8s.

Ride Comfort

Surprisingly compliant given SS models’ sport suspension and 18-inch tires. Large bumps felt but Monte Carlo is never harsh.

Handling

SS has sporty moves with well-balanced steering, though it never really feels agile. Good stopping control.

Quietness

Wind rush and tire roar both intrude. V8 subdued at cruise, has muscle car rumble under throttle.

Controls

Gauges clearly marked, easy to read. Large, clearly marked radio/climate controls have easy-grip rubberized surfaces, operate smoothly, though climate controls mounted too low for easy use. Monte Carlo trails most like-priced imports for quality feel. Hard plastic expanses dominate cabin, have budget look and feel.

Review Flashback! 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo specs

Comfort

FRONT: Head, leg room adequate. Good seat comfort with easy entry/exit. Decent visibility compromised slightly by thick rear pillars.

REAR: Generous space for a sporty coupe, though passengers over 5-ft-10 will want more head room. High step over, low seat complicate entry/exit.

Cargo Room

Generous trunk space for a coupe, just average for a midsize car. Standard 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks increase versatility. Adequate cabin storage.

Headlamp Hat Dance: 6 Years of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo prices

Value

Monte Carlo is a throwback to the era of the midsize domestic coupe, trading passenger space and cargo room for a sporty profile. It’s affordable, has competent road manners, and the SS accelerates and sounds like a muscle car. But this midsize car feels dated compared to class pacesetters such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Solara.

News

Monte Carlo is a goner after 2007, say our sources. Slow sales are the main reason. But another factor is the announced return of a Camaro coupe and convertible on General Motors’ new rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform. Expected to start sale in early 2009, Chevy’s reborn “ponycars” should look much like the recent crowd-wowing concepts. Like previous Camaros, the new ones will seat four and offer both V6 and V8 power. Independent rear suspension is planned to trump the solid axle of archrival Ford Mustang.

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2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Gallery

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Written by: Tom Appel on December 10, 2020.

Cheap Wheels: 1997-2001 Honda Prelude Type SH

2000 Honda Prelude Type SH

by Don Sikora II

Note: The following story was excerpted from the October 2019 issue of Collectible Automobile magazine.

The fifth—and final—generation of the Honda Prelude made its American debut as a 1997 model. The sportiest of these final Preludes was the Type SH, and we think it makes an interesting choice for the historically minded enthusiast seeking cheap wheels.

1997-2001 Honda Prelude Type SH

The fourth-generation Prelude had bold styling, but the redesign was an evolution of the more conservative look used by the second- and third-gen cars. The design was smooth and simple, the profile defined by a low hood, coupe roofline, and a nearly horizontal decklid. Fixed, flush-mount headlamp assemblies that dipped down into the front fascia helped define the car’s face, while a tall bumper dominated the rear view. The car ran a 101.8-inch wheelbase, was 178 inches long, and had a 3042-pound curb weight.

The engine was a 2.2-liter 16-valve four-cylinder job with Honda’s VTEC variable valve-control system. It used aluminum construction, and the 1997 brochure noted the block’s cylinder liners were made with carbon fiber and aluminum oxide. The engine was rated at 195 bhp, and the Type SH had a mandatory five-speed manual transmission. (Base Preludes with stickshift used this same powerplant, but when the optional four-speed automatic was ordered the engine ran in 190-horsepower tune.)

Cheap Wheels: 2003-2004 Dodge Intrepid SXT

The top-line Prelude Type SH added an Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS). Consumer Guide^® reported that in turns ATTS could force the outside front wheel to rotate as much as 15 percent faster than the inner front wheel. In addition, ATTS was able to direct up to 80 percent of the engine’s torque to one front wheel. Other Type SH additions included a rear spoiler and a model-exclusive design for the 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels.

Only four colors were available in ‘97: San Marino Red, Flamenco Black Pearl, Nordic Mist Metallic (silver), and Eucalyptus Green Pearl. The first three colors came with a black cloth interior, while dark-green Preludes had ivory-and-black two-tone trim.

Our CG colleagues liked the car’s reasonably supple ride, relatively quiet interior, lively acceleration (0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds for an SH), and slick shifter. Gripes included so-so rear-seat room and the required premium-grade gas.

The Prelude Type SH was one of Car and Driver’s “10 Best Cars” for 1997 and 1998. In C/D’s June 1997 issue, the SH was named the best handling car costing less than $30,000 after winning a comparison test. One short sentence summed up the Prelude well: “The feel is one of remarkable sophistication.”

The charts that accompanied the test clearly showed that this Prelude was not an inexpensive car. The Type SH’s $26,095 no-options as-tested price was exactly $1999 more than the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 that finished fourth. And then consider the Z’s $20,640 base price.

The Prelude didn’t change much after ’97. Highlights included the addition of more exterior colors over time, and in 1999 the engine picked up five horsepower for an even 200.

Future Collectibles: 2018 Subaru WRX STI Type RA

Pros:

Contemporary reviews lauded Prelude Type SH’s precise handling and rev-
happy VTEC four-cylinder engine.

We think the clean styling has aged well.

Cons:

Prelude Type SH was only available with a slick-shifting five-speed manual
transmission. Enthusiasts will delight, but it’s a problem if you can’t work
three pedals.

Remember the last time you saw a nice one?

Final Drive:

It wasn’t an inexpensive car new, and as sporty front-drive coupes go, the Prelude Type SH still has an awful lot to offer. Plus, its handling was as good as it got for a 1997-model front driver.

Written by: The Daily Drive staff on August 6, 2020.

First Look: 2021 Lexus IS

2021 Lexus IS

The COVID-19 pandemic may have put the kibosh on traditional auto shows for the near future, but automakers still have new and redesigned products poised to hit the market, and those manufacturers are increasingly turning to the Internet to debut their soon-to-arrive new vehicles. Today there were two online unveilings, in fact—Nissan took the wraps off its redesigned 2021 Rogue compact SUV this morning, and this evening Lexus debuted a revamped version of its rear-drive-based compact sport sedan via a Facebook Live webcast.

2021 Lexus IS

More Lexus news and reviews

The 2021 Lexus IS soldiers on its existing platform, but gets freshened styling, increased structural rigidity, updated suspension components, and some new tech features. Save for minor increases of a little over an inch in overall length and width, and a fractional decrease in height, the car’s dimensions are unchanged. The new bodywork sports crisper lines all around, a dramatic full-width taillight, and slimmer headlights that integrate the signature checkmark-shaped daytime running lights, which were previously separate. Chassis updates were aimed at reducing unsprung weight, and include 20-percent-lighter coil springs and forged-aluminum A-arms in place of the previous steel units.

2021 Lexus IS

The IS’s powertrains and model-naming structure carry over from the 2020 model. The rear-drive IS 300 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the all-wheel-drive IS 300 gets a 260-hp 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 6-speed automatic. The IS 350 is powered by a 311-hp version of the same 3.5-liter V6, paired with an 8-speed automatic in rear-drive form and a 6-speed automatic with AWD.

The performance-oriented F Sport trim level will now be available only on the IS 350; it had previously been offered on the IS 300 as well. F Sports get unique bodywork elements such as a front bumper with functional aerodynamic enhancements, distinctive grille, rear bumper, rear lip spoiler and rocker-panel moldings. Other F Sport exclusives include 19-inch wheels, cool-air intake with sound generator, sport pedals, and F Sport exhaust and diffuser.

Test Drive: 2020 BMW 228i xDrive Gran Coupe

2021 Lexus IS

A Dynamic Handling Package for F Sport models adds a Torsen limited-slip differential, Adaptive Variable Suspension, unique carbon-fiber rear spoiler and rearview mirror caps, and a unique BBS-brand 19-inch wheel. (Eighteen-inch wheels replace the previous 17s on non-F-Sport IS models.)

Quick Spin: 2020 Genesis G70 3.3T Sport

2021 Lexus IS

The interior is freshened with trim updates and a new infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, as well an available 10.3-inch touchscreen. The available Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System is upgraded from 17 speakers from 15, and gets a substantial boost in wattage—to 1800 watts from 835. The Lexus Safety System+ suite of active safety features is upgraded to version 2.5, which means it gets enhanced radar and camera capabilities, and an updated adaptive cruise control system that can accelerate automatically when the turn signal is activated to overtake a vehicle moving slower than the preset speed.

The 2021 Lexus IS is scheduled to go on sale late this fall. Pricing info will be released closer to that time; we expect those numbers to stay close to the 2020 IS’s base-MSRP range of $39,000-$45,000.

Test Drive: 2020 BMW M340i

2021 Lexus IS

CG Says:

Hmmm. Not a whole lot new here, but perhaps that’s to be expected. Premium compact sport sedans aren’t the hottest category in the market right now, so it makes sense that Lexus would take a conservative approach to the IS’s re-do. The IS’s basic platform dates back to the 2014 model year, and the 3.5-liter V6 goes back even further. Even though it doesn’t bring any substantial revisions, the 2021 revamp should keep the IS fresh in Lexus’s lineup for at least a couple more years.

Test Drive: 2020 Jaguar XE P250 S

2021 Lexus IS

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2021 Lexus IS

Written by: Damon Bell on June 15, 2020.