The BMW M4 is dead, but the M4 Competition isn't

“BMW M GmbH is sharpening the profile of its high-performance sports car models in the midsize premium segment as part of a restructuring of its product offering.”

A deeply boring sentence that, in short, says ‘the BMW M4 is dead’. But before you start openly weeping, worry not: the BMW M4 Competition Package is very alive and very well.

Basically, the regular M4 (425bhp, 4.3secs to 62mph) is now upgraded to an M4 Competition (444bhp, 4.2secs to 62mph) as standard, effectively slicing the former from BMW’s price lists. We suspect your heart’s started beating normally again.

Competition spec isn’t just a touch more speed, though. There’s also adaptive suspension, a more fun-loving stability control system, a sports exhaust and 20in wheels far fancier than a stock M4’s.

As a way to shuffle the current M4 towards the end of its life – the 4 Series is related to the old, rather than new 3 Series, after all – it’s probably a wise one. Whether the upgrade is free, or the ‘standard’ M4’s price has been adjusted to bridge the precise £3,000 gap between the two (£62k playing £65k), remains to be seen…