FOR the last three decades, one of the most exciting performance-car battles has been fought in the premium mid-sized sedan segment, primarily between the three German rivals – Mercedes-AMG with its C-Class, Audi with the RS4, and BMW’s legendary M3.

First released globally in 1986, the sixth-generation M3 – along with its M4 coupe sibling – have touched down on local shores, for the first time being offered in ‘regular’ and Competition guise.

Designed as a luxury mid-sizer that feels just as at home on the racetrack as it does on the road, we put the M3 and M4 Competition to the test to find out just how track-honed the new Bavarian pair really are.