BMW M Power Tour at Mission Raceway Park

By the now you probably seen the hot new M4 screaming across the aircraft carrier. The Ultimate Racetrack campaign is a massive success with over 5 million hits on YouTube alone. Last week, I was invited to attend the annual BMW M Power Tour at Mission Raceway Park. It was the perfect opportunity test drive the 2015 BMW M4 as well as the whole fleet of M models – M3, M5, and M6 Gran Coupé. The M Power Tour is a thrilling track day led by BMW’s professional driving instructors.

Matthew Wilson, Product Planning Manager at BMW Canada welcome us to the M Power Tour.

What’s M? The Motorsport program started in 1972 to modified BMW nameplate with improve engines, transmissions, suspensions, interior and exterior modifications.

The unique aspect of a M car:

– 80% new or re-engineered parts
- Lightweight materials
– 50 / 50 weight distribution
– M Drive
- 7 speed double clutch transmission

All M models are tested and tuned at the Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany.

We kick off track day with a safety briefing at the lounge area. Afterwards, we split into groups and move on to on-track driving exercises to develop our cornering and braking skills. Throughout the lesson, I was able to switch to different M models. I started with the top of the line $130,000+ M6 high performance luxury coupe. At the heart of the M6 is a twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 engine that rocket through the straight away. Even in a longer wheelbase and wider body, it’s still agile to go around the apex.

Up next was the M3 and M4, the M4 is the newest addition to BMW’s line of M performance coupes.  The M3 and the M4 are identical in many ways, they both ditch the V-8 motor in favour of a twin-turbo inline-6. On the track, the M4 is powerhouse with 425 hp and 406 lb.-ft. of torque available from 1,850 to 5,500 rpm. The 7 speed dual-clutch transmission is so good that you don’t wish for the manual. In Sport+ mode, the throttle is responsive in all gears. BMW claims the M4 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. That’s wicked fast!

After I master the exercises, I was excited to do hot laps around the track. Overall, I had lots of fun driving all of the M cars. I can’t wait for the M Tour to be back in Vancouver. Thanks to BMW Canada for inviting me.

To experience the M Power Tour, please visit: https://www.mpowertour.ca