BMW M3 Competition xDrive: The Saloon That Shames Supercars

The BMW M3 Competition xDrive is absurd. Three hundred and seventy-five kilowatts in a family saloon. Zero to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds. A sound from the S58 twin-turbo inline-six that induces genuine excitement. And yet it has a back seat, a boot and the ability to commute to work in Comfort mode without attracting unwanted attention. We spent a week with the M3 Competition xDrive in Gauteng — five days of Sandton commuting and weekend sessions at Zwartkops Raceway. The contrasts revealed the M3''s extraordinary dual character. On the street in Comfort mode, the M3 is a surprisingly civil companion. The adaptive M suspension absorbs Sandton''s speed bumps and potholes with adequate refinement. The Harman Kardon audio system fills the cabin with excellent sound. The iDrive 8 system is the class benchmark for usability. It''s a very good executive saloon. At Zwartkops, the M3 revealed a different character entirely. In Pure M4 mode with stability control reduced, the xDrive system can be biased strongly toward the rear axle, allowing the car to rotate and slide with a playfulness that rewards skilled drivers. The carbon ceramic brakes (R120,000 option on our test car) provided fade-free stopping power through seven hot laps. R2,299,900 is an enormous price. The optional extras on our test car pushed the total to R2,789,900. But the experience is genuinely unique — nothing else delivers this combination of everyday usability and track performance.