The first reviews of the controversially-styled 2021 BMW M3 are out and in this clip, Piston Heads compares it to one of the finest sports sedans of recent years, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Featured in this video is the flagship M3 Competition variant, albeit not one equipped with the optional all-wheel drive system. It is finished in grey and if you can ignore the massive kidney grilles, certainly has an aggressive shape and lots of road presence. Does it look as good as the Alfa Romeo? Of course not.
Powering the M3 Competition is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with 503 hp, matching up perfectly with the Giulia Quadrifoglio that rocks a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with the exact same output. Both are rear-wheel drive and use automatic transmissions, rather than dual-clutch gearboxes.
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One of the first comments the reviewer makes about the M3 relates to its suspension setup. He says that even when driven in Comfort mode, the ride is firm, and questions whether buyers in the UK will ever be able to change the suspension into its even firmer Sport and Sport+ settings. He also isn’t a big fan of how the new engine sounds but does say it is very, very fast.
Compared to the previous-generation M3, this new one handles much better and delivers a more refined driving experience. Sure, the eight-speed automatic transmission isn’t as snappy as some dual-clutch ones, but it does the job.
However, can the all-new M3 Competition beat the Giulia Quadrifoglio? Watch the full review to find out.