Thursday 11th September 2014

BMW M4 GTS testing?

Cage, buckets and spoiler; the M4 gets a whole lot more exciting

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Typically BMW holds back the special versions of M cars until fairly late in the model's life. Both E46 M3 CSL and E92 M3 GTS arrived a few years after the regular cars, and nothing was really expected of the new M3/M4 for a little while yet.

Does it come in orange?

But here we are, just a couple of months after the F80/2 launch and there's an M4 at the Nordschleife with an M Performance front splitter, a GTS-aping rear spoiler and Recaro buckets. Oh, and what appears to be a fairly serious cage behind them. Tip of the hat to WorldCarFans, from where these pictures come.

So what on earth is it? Well the splitter and seats look identical to the MotoGP safety car which this M4 is purporting to be. But the spoiler hasn't been seen on the M4 previously and why would there be any need to disguise body parts on a safety car that has already been seen globally? Hmm.

It is widely believed a full CSL-style paring down of the M3/M4 isn't likely to happen but another GTS is more plausible. That too had the Recaros and a cage, with BMW keeping faith in the rather apologetic rear wing. So following the old GTS recipe we could expect a bit more power, a fraction less weight and lots of orange (possibly). As and when there's anything official you'll be the first to know!

[Source: WCF]

[cerb4.5lee]

It will be interesting to see how the production model pans out as there are so many E46 CSL fans so a lighter more focussed model could do the trick nicely.

[cerb4.5lee]

Leins said:

cerb4.5lee said:

It will be interesting to see how the production model pans out as there are so many E46 CSL fans so a lighter more focussed model could do the trick nicely.

Not sure what they could come up with though. The E46 was more about using lighter materials in places than just ditching superfluous items, so they're not exactly stripped out, but most of those tricks have since become standard on the M3/M4 e.g. the carbon roof. So other than replacing the heavy seats (are the seats in an M4 still heavy?), I'm not sure how much scope there would be?

I agree and I think they do have a job on their hands in many ways but the E46 M3 CSL was a massive sweet spot for the majority of car fans in general, I just hope they don't do something silly like the E92 M3 GTS and charge an absolute fortune for it because personally I struggled to see the real point of that car.

I think BMW are stuck between a rock and a hard place though because when they produced the E46 M3 CSL they struggled to shift them although now they are massively revered and just keep going up in value and it just shows you that you cant always call what the punters want from a car sadly.

[cerb4.5lee]

Leins said:

zeduffman said:

M2 CSL instead maybe?

Now you're talking!

[cerb4.5lee]

Leins said:

However, as a "halo" model, these things can give the brand a real boost, which given the limited numbers produced is well worth the cost I would think. Also, they can be a test-bed for new kit, such as the previously mentioned carbon roof, and CRP body parts, etc.

I'm also looking forward to seeing what Alpina come up with, hopefully in the form of a replacement GT3 (B4), and surely Hartge will try and squeeze a fettled version of the M5's V8 into a 2-series soon

You make some great points there and when I actually saw a E92 M3 GTS in the metal I did appreciate it and as you say as halo cars they do have a strong purpose in terms of showing off tech and the like.

A V8 in a 2 series certainly sounds an exciting prospect!