The man in the following video is named Klaus, and his job is “functional integration” for the M3 and M4. Klaus talks in great detail about the two-door coupe over the course of almost five minutes, highlighting how much weight BMW has saved with the help of forged wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, the CFRP roof, aluminum hood and doors, and a crankshaft that weighs 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) less than before.
At the 2:25 mark of the video, we’re presented with the M carbon bucket seats. “They don’t just look light, they are light,” said Klaus, referring to a weight saving of 10 kilos (22 pounds) over the standard seats.
My question is, why did BMW spend the time, effort, and money to make this video when the G82 is heavier than the F82 it replaces for the 2021 model year? Adding insult to injury, the all-new M4 Competition with the six-speed manual transmission is 34 kilograms (75 pounds) heavier than the previous generation of the Bavarian coupe with the M-DCT gearbox.
1,674 kilograms versus 1,640 kilograms (3,691 versus 3,616 pounds) may not seem like much, and you’re right. Because the G82 M4 is more powerful than the F82 M4, the weight-to-power ratio actually favors the all-new model at 3.49 kilograms compared to 3.64 kg for every horsepower. This metric doesn't really matter in the twisties, buy hey, I guess it's something!
The thing is, Klaus fails to address the elephant in the room.
The dual-clutch gearbox is heavier than the stick shift, and some of the weight-saving features are expensive optional extras. Also, do you think it’s OK for potential customers to be offered a comparison between a loaded F82 Competition with the DCT and 20-inch wheels and a stripped G82 manual?
Whatever the case may be, the Bavarian automaker is trying to pat itself on the back when there’s no reason for it, especially not with that ginormous grille. As one YouTube user puts it in the comments section, “the lightest possible version of the new M4 is still heavier than the heaviest of the old.”
On an ending note, who thought that filming in portrait mode is acceptable in 2021? The answer to that question is BMW, a company that can't take constructive criticism without "OK booming" its most faithful customers.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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