► New BMW M4 GTS is shown
► Production-ready concept car
► Water-injected turbos and more
Has BMW been stung by a luke-warm-ish reception to its biggest-selling M cars, the M3 and M4? Perhaps, since it’s today rolling out the M4 GTS edition at this summer’s swanky Pebble Beach concours d’elegance during Monterey Car Week in California.
As the name implies, this is a GTS catwalk show car, but you won’t win any prizes for guessing that a production car will follow suit in pretty quick order. It follows in the burned-rubber tyre tracks of the last M3 GTS from 2010 – a fabulously rare-groove BMW M car in the finest tradition.
BMW Concept M4 GTS: the specs
Although no full engine outputs have been issued yet, there are a few tantalising details announced at Pebble Beach. There is more power – although precise numbers are not yet certain – and less weight, following that well worn path to greater performance.
This explains the carbonfibre bonnet, echoing earlier special M3s’ composite roof, and the front splitter and rear wing are both CFRP and manually adjustable. There’s the water-injection turbocharger system seen on the M4 MotoGP safety car, driven by CAR magazine here. This tech isn’t pie-in-the-sky, either. BMW admits the GTS at Pebble Beach ‘showcases new technologies destined to make their series production debut in a new model to be unveiled at a later date.’
Sticky Michelin Sport Cup 2 rubber is wrapped around the alloys (265/35 R19 front, 285/30 R20 out back). Note the Acid Orange accents on the splitter, rims and brake callipers – plus the OLED rear lamps. The MotoGP M4, whose tech this car shares, had the following vital statistics:
- Engine 2979cc 24v twin-turbo straight-six
- Power, torque 500bhp @ 5500-7300rpm, 442lb ft @ 1850-5500rpm
- Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch, rear-wheel drive
- Performance Sub-4.0sec 0-62mph, 181mph
- Weight/made from1437kg/aluminium and carbonfibre
The boss of M Division speaks
‘While the BMW M4 Coupe embodies the ideal combination of motor sport genes and unrestricted everyday usability, the BMW Concept M4 GTS previews an emotionally powerful and exclusive special model conceived with an eye for trailblazing technology and a keen focus on the race track,’ said Frank van Meel, president BMW M Division. ‘Despite its outstanding track ability, it is still fully road-legal. This is racing technology for the road in the truest sense.’
