BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50, do you have a clear winner?

Just by knowing the contenders, the BMW M3 Competition and the BMW i4 M50, you may already have a favorite, but not everything is as pretty as it looks. Today, it has been proven that high-performance electric cars are much faster than their combustion-engine counterparts. Would you like to see the demonstration?

A BMW dealership in the Netherlands has organized an endurance race pitting the two models against each other: the G80-generation BMW M3 Competition against the very BMW i4 M50, the first fully electric member of the Bavarian brand’s BMW M high-performance division.

https://youtu.be/vrd-KLtVkVU

BMW M3 Competition vs. BMW i4 M50, who will win?

The BMW M3 Competition is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six engine that produces 503 CV and a peak torque of 649 Nm. Power is sent directly to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. However, the all-wheel-drive xDrive variant is also available. In this version, the BMW M3 Competition accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, while the rear-wheel-drive version does it in 3.8 seconds. Likewise, its top speed reaches 289 km/h with the M Driver’s Package.

Its rival, the BMW i4 M50, comes with dual motors that combine to produce 543 CV of power and 794 Nm of peak torque. It is all-wheel drive and, in this configuration, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. A matchup between the electric car and the BMW M3 Competition xDrive would probably have made for a much closer duel, but for some reason the brand used the rear-wheel-drive option in the race.

Thanks to its traction and instant torque, the i4 M50 leaves the starting line like a shot and leaves the M3 Competition well behind. It is an easy victory for the i4 M50, which builds a large lead and completely annihilates the M3 Competition. The combustion sports car had no chance, especially on the wet track. The endurance race lasts only half a kilometre, so it would be interesting to see whether the M3 can catch the i4 M50 over a longer race. We would love to see a rematch on a dry track with a BMW M3 Competition xDrive. Don’t you think that would be the fairest option?

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackBMW i43 versions · from 58,650 €