2022 BMW M3 and M4 Competition xDrive price and features: New all-wheel drive options to take on Audi RS4 and Mercedes-AMG C63 S

BMW M will have a big finish to 2021 with five new models set to hit showrooms in the fourth quarter.

The quintet consists of the all-new, all-wheel drive M3 Competition xDrive and M4 Competition xDrive as well as M4 Competition Convertible and the new performance SUV twins, the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition.

The all-wheel drive M3/M4 were already confirmed to join the local range, but pricing and specifications of both are now locked in. The new additions are noteworthy as it’s the first time BMW’s iconic sports sedan and coupe have had all-wheel drive available.

Both will be powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine making 375kW/650Nm, but instead of just sending power to the rear wheels it now does through the front as well. The only other notable mechanical change are some tweaks to the front suspension and steering geometry to account for the all-wheel drive.

The xDrive system does help shave some time off the 0-100km/h acceleration run, with the all-wheel drive M4 Competition doing it in 3.5 seconds compared to 3.9 seconds for the two-wheel drive variant.

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The BMW M3 Competition xDrive will be priced from $160,900 (plus on-road costs), while the M4 Competition Coupe xDrive starts at $165,900 (plus on-road costs), which is a $6000 premium over the rear-wheel drive options.

The M4 Competition Convertible with xDrive completes the line-up (for now at least) and will be the only drop-top options. It gets the same mechanicals as the M4 Competition Coupe but, naturally, as a folding roof. It’s a soft-top, like the regular 4-Series Convertible. BMW claims it’s 40 per cent lighter than the previous M4 Convertible’s roof and can open or close in less than 18 second at speeds up to 50km/h.

The final two members of this extended M family will be the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition, which share the same powertrain as the M3/M4. The upgrade to the Competition specification means an extra 50Nm of torque, meaning the duo have the same 375kW/650Nm outputs as the M3 and M4 Competition models.

This means the SUVs are even faster now, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds.

Like the updated 2022 model year X3 and X4 we reported on yesterday, the X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition will get styling tweaks to the exterior and interior.

Pricing for the X3 M Competition starts at $160,900 (plus on-road costs), with the X4 M Competition priced from $167,900 (plus on-road costs).