► A new BMW M4 with the VR46 treatment
► Commemorates Rossi’s birthday
► Special paint job and interior
You’re looking at the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46, an all-new collaboration between nine-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and Munich’s motorsport division. Although primarily known for his two-wheeled exploits, in recent years Rossi has had success driving for Audi and now BMW, as a works driver in its M4 GT3 racer. The M4 CS Edition VR46 you see here is the latest chapter in that partnership and was commissioned to mark his birthday.
Of course, it’s not the only thing Valentino Rossi has been up to post-retirement: in addition to racing himself, he’s also set up his own MotoGP racing team, VR46.
‘There is no other brand that has motorsport so deeply rooted in its DNA as BMW M,’ said Rossi. ‘I am proud to be a BMW M works driver, and to share this passion. The fact that there is now a special VR46 edition, in which I was involved from the very beginning of the design process, makes me proud.’
What’s different?
The BMW’s performance stats are unchanged compared to the standard car, but this M4 does at least get some strong visual changes. Being a Rossi collaboration, it goes big on the #46 – the number the Italian used in his incredibly successful racing career. It also involves a large amount of dazzling yellow paint too – another hallmark of Rossi’s bikes, leathers and helmets.
Rossi’s special edition, which is limited to just 46 cars will come in two variants: Sport and Style. Both feature the 46 prominently as well exposed carbonfibre, and vary mostly when it comes to the exterior colours; the Sport is finished in Marina Bay Blue metallic, with a darker 46 font, while the Style gets matt Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic, with the lettering in Frozen Marina Bay Blue metallic.
You’ll find Rossi’s customary day-glo yellow throughout; it’s around the kidney grille, on one of the spokes of the alloy wheels, and the brake callipers get the same treatment. There’s a huge yellow VR46 logo on the M4’s carbonfibre roof and the boot also gets VR46 branding.
The yellow accents continue inside too. The M4 CS VR46 gets a mostly Night Blue interior in leather, but it benefits from more flashes of yellow and VR46 logos. There’s yellow contrast stitching on the wheel, along with a centre marker in Rossi’s customary colour.
Anything else?
Each car gets a 1 of 46 plaque inside and also comes with a two day experience with The Doctor himself. Purchase one of these, and you’ll get a personal meeting with Rossi at his famous VR46 Motor Ranch in Tavullia, Italy – and you’ll get a BMW M driving day experience at Misano the following day.