Until very recently, BMW offered two variants of each M car: the standard M model and the more powerful Competition model. However, recently, the brand has quietly begun to phase out the competition model. But BMW has good reason for this shift.
In a recent interview with BMW BlogFrank van Meel, CEO of BMW M, has confirmed that the competition model has ended in future M cars. Logic? Buyers simply prefer the high-performance version. Van Mel said:
“More than 80 percent of our customers went straight to the competition. So we said, let’s make that the standard. You could say that every M model today is a competition.
According to Van Meel, the move will help simplify the M lineup moving forward. Buyers will soon only have three options to choose from: base M, CS, and CSL. Standard M models will now include many features – including power – previously reserved for Competition versions, while CS and CSL models will focus on reduced weight and improved on-track performance.
BMW M3 Competition xDrive
For now, BMW still offers the Competition option on select models from 2026, including the M3 and M4. Checking the Competition box adds standard xDrive all-wheel drive and increases power by 20 horsepower, taking the M3 and M4 from 503 to 523 horsepower. The X5 M also retains Competition specifications for 2026, with 617 hp.
However, newer models like the M2 and upcoming M5 will no longer offer a Competition version for 2026. This change will undoubtedly extend across the entire M lineup in the near future. We’ve reached out to BMW for an official statement and will update this story when we hear back.
