{"id":13279,"date":"2021-11-10T13:39:38","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T18:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/auto\/?p=13279"},"modified":"2021-11-10T13:39:38","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T18:39:38","slug":"bmwblog-podcast-m4-xdrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=13279","title":{"rendered":"BMWBLOG Podcast EP.58: M4 xDrive and B8 Gran Coupe test drives, BMW XM news"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Well, we\u2019re back. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2021\/09\/23\/podcast-with-bill-auberlen\/\">BMWBLOG Podcast<\/a> took a break for a little while, as Horatiu and I were both extremely busy with trips and test drives that we couldn\u2019t record any episodes. However, now that life has slowed down a bit, we\u2019re back with another episode and it\u2019s one worth listening to.<\/p>\n<p>In this new episode, Horatiu and I both talk about the cars we\u2019ve tested over the past month or so and there are some good ones in there. More so Horatiu\u2019s drives than mine, though, as he was back and forth between Germany, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Florida in just one month, testing all sorts of new cars. One of which, the one he wanted most to talk about, was the BMW <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2021\/11\/08\/2022-bmw-m4-competition-xdrive-test-drive\/\">M4 Competition xDrive<\/a>, which he drove on both the road and the track in Palm Springs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_413577\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-413577\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50.jpg\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-413577\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-830x552.jpg\" alt=\"2022 bmw m440i gran coupe aventurine red test Drive review 50 830x552\" width=\"830\" height=\"552\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-1538x1024.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of 2022 bmw m440i gran coupe aventurine red test Drive review 50 830x552\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-medium wp-image-413577\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20830%20552%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-830x552.jpg\" alt=\"2022 bmw m440i gran coupe aventurine red test Drive review 50 830x552\" width=\"830\" height=\"552\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-1538x1024.jpg 1538w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/2022_bmw_m440i_gran_coupe_aventurine_red_test_Drive_review_50.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of 2022 bmw m440i gran coupe aventurine red test Drive review 50 830x552\"\/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-413577\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe Aventurinrot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>More than that, he actually was able to ride shotgun in the M4 with pro racing driver Bill Auberlen behind the wheel. With Auberlen behind the wheel, they raced another BMW pro driver on track at the Thermal Club, which seemed to have been a real thrill.<\/p>\n<p>He also drove the BMW <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2021\/11\/09\/2022-bmw-m440i-gran-coupe-test-drive\/\">M440i Gran Coupe<\/a>, which is an interesting car in BMW\u2019s lineup. It used to be a very niche car for a very specific, and rather small, group of customers. Now, though, the overlap between 3 Series customers and 4 Series Gran Coupe customers is smaller, due to the latter\u2019s different design. It\u2019s also a very good car in its own right, with the added practicality of the hatchback trunk.<\/p>\n<p>The test drive I was most excited to talk about was the ALPINA B8 Gran Coupe, a car that I absolutely adore. While Horatiu doesn\u2019t feel that the B8 can be considered \u201cbetter\u201d than the M8 Gran Coupe, due to it being very different, I will stick my neck out and say that it\u2019s absolutely better. A lot better. The B8 is the best version of the 8 Series Gran Coupe and it\u2019s not close.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16.jpg\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-408932\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"bmw alpina b8 gran coupe green color 16 830x553\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of bmw alpina b8 gran coupe green color 16 830x553\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignnone size-medium wp-image-408932\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20830%20553%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"bmw alpina b8 gran coupe green color 16 830x553\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/bmw_alpina_b8_gran_coupe_green_color_16.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of bmw alpina b8 gran coupe green color 16 830x553\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lastly, we teased BMW\u2019s upcoming concept car reveal, scheduled for November 29, which is likely going to be the BMW XM concept. The XM will be BMW M\u2019s first-ever standalone product, built from the ground up by the M Division without using a preexisting BMW Group product, which makes it a big deal. It\u2019s also going to be the M Division\u2019s first hybrid. So stay tuned for that.<\/p>\n<p>As always, our podcast can be found wherever major podcasts are found; Apple, Google, Stitcher, and Spotify, thanks for listening and stay tuned for a special guest next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Well, we\u2019re back. The BMWBLOG Podcast took a break for a little while, as Horatiu and I were both extremely busy with trips and test drives that we couldn\u2019t record any episodes. However, now that life has slowed down a bit, we\u2019re back with another episode and it\u2019s one worth listening to. In this new [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":8313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13279\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}