The Most Powerful BMW M Cars You Can Buy
Despite the fact that its M division logo adorns seemingly every BMW model on the planet nowadays, everything from its most benign people movers to its most extreme sports cars, “M Power” remains serious stuff. BMW’s modern-era turbocharged inline-six and V-8 engines under the hoods of its true BMW M cars are marvels of engineering and brute force. In addition, BMW has traditionally tended to be conservative when rating its engines’ horsepower, so there’s possibly a little more oomph lurking when the revs climb to the engine’s power peak.
Speaking of oomph, the new, truly M from the ground up BMW XM super SUV gets even more of it thanks to the addition of an electric motor. Excluding the other M-badged models such as the X6M, this is the list of the German automaker’s latest and greatest true BMW M series models for sale, and how they stack up, numbers wise. It won’t be long before BMW’s gas-powered M cars are gone forever, so if you want one, the time is now.
2024 BMW M2: 453 Horsepower
Of all the current BMW M cars now available, the 2024 BMW M2 sticks closest to what made the brand so popular over the decades: pursuit of driving joy as opposed to simply chasing ever-increasing performance numbers. Although its looks are somewhat polarizing and the nannies can be a bit much (thankfully, you can turn them all off if you want), when it comes to the present M series lineup you won’t find a lighter or more compact sports car. Under the hood of the most playful BMW M model is the automaker’s seriously impressive S58 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six engine, which is similar to the mill powering the M3 and M4. Don’t let that horsepower number fool you, though, because the M2 will introduce your back to the seat with gusto to the tune of 3.6 seconds to 60 mph in our testing. (Note: A 2023 model is pictured)
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2024 BMW M3 and M4: 503 Horsepower
With the same engine the M2 uses, but with more aggressive tuning, the 2024 BMW M3 and M4 almost make you forget about their front bodywork via 503 horsepower for the Competition model, or 473 horses for the base. Despite curb weights approaching two tons, the Competition can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, which is fast enough to make any dragstrip start to feel like a cliff somebody just pushed you off. The S58 engine that powers most BMW M series models for sale today gets the job done regardless of tune. Those looking for an even more hardcore model can now order the 2024 BMW M3 CS (pictured), with all-wheel drive and a version of the S58 boosted to 543 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.
2023 BMW M4 CSL: 543 Horsepower
The ultimate form of BMW’s dramatically capable S58 in factory trim was fitted under the hood of the 2023 BMW M4 CSL, which sadly is no longer available as of the 2024 model year, but maybe you’ll be able to still pick up one of the 1,000 units—if you have $140,000 to spend, that is. The 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder was tuned to a beastly 543 hp for the wildest child of M3/M4 line, which is meant for lapping tracks at breakneck speeds. The CSL has a few slight missteps, including that standard M3/4 grille and a manual transmission that feels like a bit of an afterthought, but the engine is not one of those.
2023 BMW M5: 600 Horsepower
Moving from the 3.0-liter six-cylinder S58 to the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 S63 engine, the next up the power ladder is the 2023 BMW M5. Forever a benchmark super sedan, the current M5 can either put all that power to violent use with all-wheel drive, or you can switch it to a rear-wheel-drive mode for maximum sideways fun. The extra cylinders and literage gives these higher-end and heavier M engines more headroom when it comes to power. Although it’s a ruthlessly fast all-weather weapon, we’ve found that the modern M5 lacks some of the steering feel and the manual option of bygone years. It’s far from lacking speed, however. A new M5 is on the way, and it’s likely to go hybrid like the XM, so we’ll see how much more power that one gets soon enough.
2024 BMW M8: 617 Horsepower
Beauty and power go hand in hand with the 2024 BMW M8, which is propelled by a version of the S63 twin-turbo V-8 also found under the hood of the present M5. The M8 is boosted to an even higher output, allowing the beefy grand tourer to rush from 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. Stupid quick as it is, the M8 is meant more for fast continent crossing than track driving joy, and it’s available in coupe, convertible, and four-door Gran Coupe versions. Although it can be somewhat disconnected at times from the roads it’s asked to annihilate, the M8 is still BMW’s most diverse and attractive M car.
2024 BMW XM: 644 Horsepower
Despite a face only a mother could love and being an SUV, the 2024 BMW XM is the most powerful BMW M model you can buy today, and for only the second time in its history, the XM is billed as a true M model created from whole cloth by the M Division. BMW’s new S68 code 4.4-liter V-8 combines with an electric motor to produce 644 horsepower. Even though some BMW enthusiasts are probably not enthused that the top-of-the-line M car is a chunky SUV, the XM’s hybrid powertrain moves all6,062 pounds of it from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds, though that’s not as quick as other BMW models like the X6M. The XM might not be the fastest or most agile BMW M series model for sale, but it is both the most expensive and most powerful.
The Most Powerful BMW M Cars You Can Buy
2024 BMW XM
2024 BMW M8
2023 BMW M5
2024 BMW M4
2024 BMW M3
2024 BMW M2