Seres, Greece. mobile.bg team from the event site.
As people who have been involved in cars for a long time, we are used to high octane and lots of horsepower, but there are moments that even for us, overturn the ideas of dynamics. One such moment was the test drive of four models from the BMW M portfolio - M5, M4 Cabrio, M2 and the limited M4 CS, which took place on the track in Serres, Greece. This 3,186-meter Balkan temple of speed, with its 16 bends, turned out to be the perfect battlefield for testing the absolute limit of Bavarian engineering thought.
After the considerable dose of adrenaline that these cars gave us, it became clear that a new era of speed is already a fact and it bears the BMW M emblem, and electrification is only an assistant, not the main driving force. With the latest generation of its sports cars, the Bavarian manufacturer is not only questioning the limits of dynamics, but also our ideas about luxury, power and weight. As has already become clear, we tested four of the most impressive "M" masterpieces - the new, hybrid M5 (G90), the updated M4 Cabrio (G83 LCI), the indomitable M2 (G87) and the uncompromising M4 CS (G82). We present them to you in the order in which we tested them on the track in Ceres.
1. BMW M5 Estate (G90): 727 reasons to believe in hybrids
The biggest change in the family is precisely in the flagship. The BMW M5 (G90) is now a hybrid, which transforms the luxury sedan, or in this case, a station wagon, into a real supercar. The system power reaches 727 hp, and the torque is 1000 Nm. This is achieved by integrating an electric motor into the transmission, which supports the updated 4.4-liter V8 M TwinPower Turbo engine. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes just 3.5 seconds.
On Ceres, the M5 demonstrates raw, unadulterated power. When you straighten the steering wheel after a corner and press the accelerator, the hybrid system provides instant traction that shoots you forward at incredible speed. However, the weight of over 2.3 tons, due to the battery and electrical components, cannot be ignored. In the successive, sharp bends of Ceres, the M5 requires masterful steering to maintain its trajectory. However, the M xDrive is a real guardian angel, ensuring that this enormous inertia is controlled, even when you decide to switch off the front-wheel drive for a bit of drifting fun. The M5 is the fastest luxury office on wheels, but not the most agile athlete on the track.
2. BMW M4 Cabrio (G83 LCI): aesthetics and emotion
The M4 Cabrio continues to be a symbol of freedom mixed with high dynamics. The 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder S58 engine in the facelift now generates 530 hp and 650 Nm. With M xDrive and an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission, acceleration to 100 km/h takes 3.7 seconds. Of course, we didn't drive on the track with the roof open, but the raucous roar of the S58 still rings in your ears - it's a unique track emotion. The power is more than enough to "stretch" your face, but unlike the coupe, the Cabrio version always brings with it a compromise in rigidity. The added weight from the mechanisms and reinforcements is felt under extreme loads. This doesn't make it slow, but it makes it more of a fast GT for the track than an uncompromising record-breaker. But for pure joy of life and speed – this is the car.
3. BMW M2 Coupe (G87): short wheelbase, rear-wheel drive and a big heart
The BMW M2 remains the raw, unfiltered member of the family. This is the machine that challenges you and rewards you with absolute feedback, because it is rear-wheel drive only. The M2 (G87) now has increased power to 480 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It retains rear-wheel drive (RWD) and offers a choice of manual (4.2 sec. to 100 km/h) or automatic (4.0 sec. to 100 km/h) transmissions. In our case, the transmission was automatic.
At Ceres, the M2 shone with agility that borders on audacity. The short wheelbase and rear-wheel drive make it extremely lively and reactive. In tight sections of the track, it changes direction with an ease that is lacking in its larger brothers. However, the large power directed only to the rear wheels makes it a machine for experienced hands and for this reason, on the verge of traction, the M2 is the closest to the old M-feeling - light, powerful and direct
4. BMW M4 CS (G82): the hyper-focus
The M4 CS is the pinnacle of pure track-focused evolution in the range. It was created with one goal in mind – to be fast. The CS is lightweight and powerful. Its 3.0-liter S58 engine has been boosted to 543 hp and 650 Nm. Thanks to lightweight carbon components and special chassis settings, it catapults to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds.
Without hesitation, we’ll say that the M4 CS is in a different league. On Ceres, every pedal press, every turn of the steering wheel is immediate and instantaneous. The very differently tuned M xDrive is hyper-efficient here, transferring power between all four wheels with impeccable precision, while special chassis settings eliminate almost any roll. The M4 CS gives you the confidence to attack before the apex until the very end and to apply the throttle earlier on the exit of the corner. The difference with the M4 Cabrio is huge – The CS is an uncompromising weapon, designed to conquer the chronometer.
The verdict: After a day filled with tires, the smell of gasoline and adrenaline on the Serres track, our ranking in pure track performance is undeniable:
BMW M4 CS (G82): The undisputed winner! Its hyper-focus, lightweight design and perfectly calibrated 543-horsepower engine make it the fastest and most efficient touring machine.
BMW M2 Coupe (G87): The most rewarding! Although it lags behind the CS in terms of time, its RWD dynamics and agility make it the ultimate pleasure for any car enthusiast.
BMW M4 Convertible (G83 LCI): The fast aesthete! The combination of serious power (530 hp) and open skies makes it extremely attractive to those who value style and emotion over every millisecond.
BMW M5 Sedan (G90): The technological titan! Although the most powerful (727 hp), its heavy weight makes it more of an incredibly fast supercar on the highway than an uncompromising track racer. warrior.
And the reason for this peculiar ranking is mostly related to the Weight/Power ratio, because the other settings in all four models are almost perfect.
BMW M4 CS (G82) - 321.3 hp/ton: Its significant superiority in this ratio is the key to its success on the track. Although the M5 has more "common" power, the CS has the least weight per horsepower, giving it an unparalleled advantage when braking, cornering and changing direction. It's the definition of agility and efficiency.
BMW M5 Sedan (G90) - 298.6 hp/ton: Although the M5 is last in the standings, it's an astonishing car. The 727 horsepower is necessary and sufficient to compensate for the enormous weight of over 2.4 tons due to the hybrid system. This positions it as phenomenally fast on the straights, but the mass inevitably slows down the pace in the technical sections of Ceres.
BMW M4 Cabrio (G83 LCI) - 286.5 hp/ton: Here we see how "pleasure costs weight". The power is excellent (530 hp), but the extra weight of the roof mechanism and the reinforcements pull the ratio down, explaining why it is more of a sports GT than a pure track coupe.
BMW M2 Coupe (G87) - 278.3 hp/ton: The ratio is the lowest, but don't be fooled! The M2 scores points with the shortest wheelbase and smallest dimensions, which makes it extremely light and agile in real conditions, especially in tight corners. But in the end it's more of a subjective feeling of agility than a pure competitive advantage.
