Photo: BMW
The BMW M4 GTS was finally officially unveiled today after a waiting period that seemed to be never-ending. Millions of spy photos, enticing Nurburgring testing videos and a general feeling of excitement surrounding the new GTS model made this one of the most highly awaited moments of the year in the auto industry.
After seeing the M4 GTS concept being unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it is now time to dwell on the details of the production model, and we’re not disappointed in the slightest.
The first things that give away this M4 and its distinctive features are the front bumper, the wing on the boot lid and the Acid Orange lightweight wheels. As a matter of fact, the same color is found throughout the car in critical areas but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Up front, there’s an adjustable front splitter that is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) that divides the onrushing air, guiding it, in part, under the car to optimize aerodynamics. From there on out, the air is then channeled by the carbon-fiber rear diffuser that actually increases its speed.
The wing on the boot is also made of CFRP but rests on CNC-machined aluminum mounts fixed to the boot lid (also made of CFRP). Its job is to optimize the air flow as well as reduce the lift for the rear axle.
Since we’re looking at the back of this car, we should also mention the OLED taillights that are a first in the industry. While up front we’re dealing with adaptive LED headlamps, round the back we have a new design that uses Organic LEDs that are a new kind of light source. They are lighter than their ‘regular’ counterparts, with a height of just 1.4 millimeters. We were thrilled to learn that they have the same design as seen on the Concept.
They are made of carbon fiber and feature Alcantara and Merino leather with M stripes for the seat backrests. They can be fitted with six-point harnesses, or you can stick to the standard seat belts. The rear seats have been cut to shed some weight and, if you want to, you can get an optional roll cage in the back along with a fire extinguished for no extra charge. Of course, you should know that this would add to the total weight of the car.
Even the center console has been subjected to a diet and you no longer get to benefit from the comfort a storage space inside it, even the aux and USB inputs being moved next to the handbrake lever.
Glass-fiber-reinforced-plastic (GFRP) rear paneling is covered in Alcantara while the rear panel is made of carbon fiber. The steering wheel is covered in the same material and has an Acid Orange detail at 12 o’clock.
Other interesting features inside the cabin include the door panels that are now featuring straps instead of handles, the GTS badging in Acid Orange and the lightweight support beams for the entire dash.
The 3-liter inline 6-cylinder engine is also claimed to be just as fuel efficient as its less hardcore brother, the company claiming that the fuel consumption stands still at 8.3 l/100 km (34 mpg imp). That’s hard to believe, but we will take into account their claims that the unit is more viable than others in the same power region with similar displacements.
For these new figures to be achieved, water is being sprayed into the intake manifold plenum at 10 bar. Thanks to it, the temperature of the air going into the combustion chamber can be lowered even further after going through the intercooler, by up to 25 degrees Celsius.
That, in turn, allows the engineers to increase turbo boost and the compression ratio to get better performance without altering the lifespan of the engine. Furthermore, with careful management, the system can also compensate for temperature variations in the driving environment by simply injecting more water into the mix.
When pushed to the limit on the track, you’ll need to refill the water tank located in the boot every time you refuel. In day to day driving though, BMW claims that will only be necessary every five fill-ups.
Even if you forget to do so or you don’t have any water at hand, the system is fitted with a fail-safe device that will change the operating values of the engine, bringing it down to the stock S55 output without damaging anything else on board.
A while back the world was stunned to learn that the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV became the fastest sedan around the Nurburgring with a lap time of 7 minutes and 39 seconds. Back then, the Italians made a big deal out of the fact that they were about 11 seconds faster than the M4. Well, the tables seemingly have turned this time around. We can’t say BMW did this on purpose but their M4 GTS is now on par with cars such as the McLaren MP4-12C, Porsche Carrera GT and faster than the SLS AMG GT or the older Porsche 911 Turbo S.
The car may accelerate quickly but it will also be brought back in check in a hurry. Carbon ceramic brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston ones at the back are standard while the DIN weight of the car is just 1,510 kg (3,328 lbs with all fluids on board and the tank filled up to 90%).
Unfortunately, as the name suggests, this is a special edition model and it will be built only in 700 units in total which is a lot considering that the E92 M3 GTS, for example, was made in less than 150 units (138 in total as a matter of fact). The pricing wasn’t unveiled just yet but considering what you get as standard and its performance, we’re expecting anything close to €150,000.
The first things that give away this M4 and its distinctive features are the front bumper, the wing on the boot lid and the Acid Orange lightweight wheels. As a matter of fact, the same color is found throughout the car in critical areas but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Up front, there’s an adjustable front splitter that is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) that divides the onrushing air, guiding it, in part, under the car to optimize aerodynamics. From there on out, the air is then channeled by the carbon-fiber rear diffuser that actually increases its speed.
The wing on the boot is also made of CFRP but rests on CNC-machined aluminum mounts fixed to the boot lid (also made of CFRP). Its job is to optimize the air flow as well as reduce the lift for the rear axle.
Since we’re looking at the back of this car, we should also mention the OLED taillights that are a first in the industry. While up front we’re dealing with adaptive LED headlamps, round the back we have a new design that uses Organic LEDs that are a new kind of light source. They are lighter than their ‘regular’ counterparts, with a height of just 1.4 millimeters. We were thrilled to learn that they have the same design as seen on the Concept.
Inside the cabin
The attention to keeping things as light as possible can be noticed inside the cabin as well. The first thing you’ll see will be the new seats that are even lighter than the ones used for the regular M4 model.They are made of carbon fiber and feature Alcantara and Merino leather with M stripes for the seat backrests. They can be fitted with six-point harnesses, or you can stick to the standard seat belts. The rear seats have been cut to shed some weight and, if you want to, you can get an optional roll cage in the back along with a fire extinguished for no extra charge. Of course, you should know that this would add to the total weight of the car.
Even the center console has been subjected to a diet and you no longer get to benefit from the comfort a storage space inside it, even the aux and USB inputs being moved next to the handbrake lever.
Glass-fiber-reinforced-plastic (GFRP) rear paneling is covered in Alcantara while the rear panel is made of carbon fiber. The steering wheel is covered in the same material and has an Acid Orange detail at 12 o’clock.
Other interesting features inside the cabin include the door panels that are now featuring straps instead of handles, the GTS badging in Acid Orange and the lightweight support beams for the entire dash.
The fastest BMW ever made uses water injection
Just as we suspected, the M4 GTS’ engine uses the new water injection technology we’ve been telling you about. Thanks to it, the power of the S55 engine under the bonnet went from 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque to 500 HP and 600 Nm (434 lb-ft) of torque.The 3-liter inline 6-cylinder engine is also claimed to be just as fuel efficient as its less hardcore brother, the company claiming that the fuel consumption stands still at 8.3 l/100 km (34 mpg imp). That’s hard to believe, but we will take into account their claims that the unit is more viable than others in the same power region with similar displacements.
For these new figures to be achieved, water is being sprayed into the intake manifold plenum at 10 bar. Thanks to it, the temperature of the air going into the combustion chamber can be lowered even further after going through the intercooler, by up to 25 degrees Celsius.
That, in turn, allows the engineers to increase turbo boost and the compression ratio to get better performance without altering the lifespan of the engine. Furthermore, with careful management, the system can also compensate for temperature variations in the driving environment by simply injecting more water into the mix.
When pushed to the limit on the track, you’ll need to refill the water tank located in the boot every time you refuel. In day to day driving though, BMW claims that will only be necessary every five fill-ups.
Even if you forget to do so or you don’t have any water at hand, the system is fitted with a fail-safe device that will change the operating values of the engine, bringing it down to the stock S55 output without damaging anything else on board.
Nurburgring lap time of 7:28
With this newfound power, the M4 GTS became the fastest car the BMW brand ever built with a sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill of 3.8 seconds and a top speed (governed) of 305 km/h (190 mph). It is also the fastest car around the Nurburgring they ever made, with a claimed lap time of 7:28.A while back the world was stunned to learn that the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV became the fastest sedan around the Nurburgring with a lap time of 7 minutes and 39 seconds. Back then, the Italians made a big deal out of the fact that they were about 11 seconds faster than the M4. Well, the tables seemingly have turned this time around. We can’t say BMW did this on purpose but their M4 GTS is now on par with cars such as the McLaren MP4-12C, Porsche Carrera GT and faster than the SLS AMG GT or the older Porsche 911 Turbo S.
The car may accelerate quickly but it will also be brought back in check in a hurry. Carbon ceramic brakes with 6-piston calipers up front and 4-piston ones at the back are standard while the DIN weight of the car is just 1,510 kg (3,328 lbs with all fluids on board and the tank filled up to 90%).
Unfortunately, as the name suggests, this is a special edition model and it will be built only in 700 units in total which is a lot considering that the E92 M3 GTS, for example, was made in less than 150 units (138 in total as a matter of fact). The pricing wasn’t unveiled just yet but considering what you get as standard and its performance, we’re expecting anything close to €150,000.
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