BMW's latest 4 series offering is well documented as being divisive with the brand's largest and most obnoxious double kidney grille to date, the M4 and M3 received the same treatment, and the G80, and G82 generation received near-unanimous praise for the vehicle's engineering prowess.
With 473 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds whilst keeping the driver in relative comfort and luxury is a sure-fire way of remaining successful, despite the controversial front fascia. The competition variation receives a boost in power to just over 500 horsepower.
However, with an expected lifespan of between five and ten years, BMW's latest offering is here to stay and will no doubt become a darling of the tuner scene with its angular design, the potential for modification, and prestigious badge it seems more than likely after all its predecessors have done.
Already a plethora of more powerful and more aggressive M3 and M4s have come to market with some projects like Aulitzky's promising upwards of 800 hp. Fast cars that can go even faster are par for the course, and many can easily become mundane. One concept artist who has already grown bored of essentially useless power modifications is Bradbuilds, who has recently unveiled their 4 Series based offroad camper.
Bradbuilds' concept shows the off-road potential of BMW's coupe.
Rally Potential
Bradbuilds has kept the car's look intact, shunning the addition of rally-style lights, chunky bodywork to protect the car's bodywork or any sort of undercarriage. This leaves the M4 based render with its iconic quad exhaust set up, but for how long they would remain attached on an off-road trail or clambering over a boulder is an unknown. To increase the car's off-road capability, Bradbuild has increased the car's ride height and given it some unbranded large off-roading tires.
This makes it look like a modified car from a video game. BMW's M cars are no stranger to rally. Speed Hunters wrote about the E30 M3, "Compared to the immense success the E30 M3 enjoyed globally in touring cars, its rally career in Group A wasn’t nearly as impressive. In the World Rally Championship, it only won a single event out of 48 entries with just a 41.7% finishing rate", however, the E36 is no stranger to dirt tracks either.
To finish the render's off-road credentials, the car has a full roll cage and by the looks of it a different kind of bucket seat than those which come equipped from the factory. Bradbuilds has subtly badged their project with just one branding label beneath the M4 badge.
An Unexpected Twist
Protruding from the rear is a peculiar creation that surely serves to ruin the aerodynamics of the car, a rear cabin. On Bradbuilds' Instagram account they write, "Sporting a bed, kitchenette, and a pair of solar panels", the rear cabin is well equipped, although the designer hasn't provided designs of this for public consumption. But it seems likely, seeing as the cabin not only is taller than the coupe's low-slung roof but also is built into the rear seating area of the BMW.
The rear cabin has three windows with two on the left and one on the right; whilst being finished in a different shade of grey to the rest of the vehicle, it has a rough and utilitarian aesthetic that contrasts the lowered wide-body renders of BMWs, which are most popular. Bradbuilds acknowledges this writing, "Figured with all the widebody variations of this car already out, something different would be nice".
In another break from the traditions of the fan concept design community, the car has dirt on it; pictured in a desert scene along the rear fender the chunky tires have kicked up some sand, showing this car means business. However, Bradbuilds doesn't run a workshop of having manufacturing facilities, so their concept won't see production.
It's Mechanically Possible
Bradbuilds' Instagram account has 497,000 followers where they post regular, high quality renders. Accounts like this are not uncommon, after all the tuning scene is massive.
Bradbuilds is set apart by their mechanical knowledge, with a lesser-known YouTube channel in the same vein as Taverish or Hoovies Garage, they document their project cars which include a Junkyard Datsun 240Z, Subaru WRX Hatchback, and a RAM 1500 truck. Working on restoring these vehicles is proof that their work is grounded in reality, unlike so many outlandish fans made concepts and designs.
Bearing this in mind, the 4 Series-based camper would hopefully be mechanically possible. Endurance racing has long been a proving ground for BMW, recently with the M6 GT3. BMW's motorcycle division has produced bikes with Dakar in their name, inspired by the famous rally.
The BMW F650 Dakar is one of the brand's more successful dirt bikes. The "Dakar Edition" was a name given to a sand-colored version of the E92 M3, but don't let the rugged name fool you it had little to no off-roading potential with the 4.2-liter V8 sending all of its power to the rear wheels. It is unlikely, but maybe an M car could be entered into the Dakar rally and reign victorious just like the Porsche 959 did in the era of Group B.