RE: BMW M4 GTS testing?
Thursday 11th September 2014
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.
BMW M4 GTS testing?
Cage, buckets and spoiler; the M4 gets a whole lot more exciting
Does it come in orange?
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!
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[Source: WCF]
Discussion
Interesting, looks rather promising.
Despite everyone on PH professing to prefer the M3 saloon rather than the M4 Coupe, I've seen quite a few on the road now and ALL of them (other than the M3 demo cars in the dealers car park) were the M4 Coupe.
I think it looks great, and this one potentially even better.
Despite everyone on PH professing to prefer the M3 saloon rather than the M4 Coupe, I've seen quite a few on the road now and ALL of them (other than the M3 demo cars in the dealers car park) were the M4 Coupe.
I think it looks great, and this one potentially even better.
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?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?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 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 said:
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.
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 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.
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
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.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
A V8 in a 2 series certainly sounds an exciting prospect!
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.
It was, however, a complete sales disaster for bmw though.... Suggests the market for this is very small, sadly. E65Ross said:
It was, however, a complete sales disaster for bmw though.... Suggests the market for this is very small, sadly.
But that was before car sizes exploded and they all lost "steering feel" (whatever it is). I’d say the market is larger now than it was back then but yes... still very small.E65Ross 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.
It was, however, a complete sales disaster for bmw though.... Suggests the market for this is very small, sadly. 
kambites said:
E65Ross 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.
It was, however, a complete sales disaster for bmw though.... Suggests the market for this is very small, sadly. E65Ross said:
kambites said:
E65Ross 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.
It was, however, a complete sales disaster for bmw though.... Suggests the market for this is very small, sadly. see here- http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
or here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSy_E33wWaQ&fe...
cheers Jamie
I have high hopes for this M4.
The M3 CSL was a sales success. M GmbH managed to sell every single one of them. The dealer network admittedly struggled for a while, in the UK at least. M Division are still dining out on the CSL's reputation. The argument otherwise has long been rendered moot.
I was fortunate enough to own two of them, though a Sapphire Black model still eludes me...
The M3 GTS was a parts bin special. Engine aside, nothing on that car was bespoke, masterpiece though it was. As said by many, even CH, the CSL was more of an event.
If this track M4 mule is more CSL and less GTS then all the better. Production volume ought to be sufficiently high as to ensure sensible affordability... £75k in today's terms anyone? But at the same time limited in volume so as to ensure a sensible level of exclusivity. Say 2000 units world wide, 300-400 rhd UK models, the UK being a proportionally strong market for such variants.
Power output needn't be drastically higher than current. 17bhp more as per the original CSL would be fine. However, weight saving of a similar order - 110 kg - or more would be more than welcome, with perhaps the option of passive dampers and both manual (not for me) and DCT.
A fairly simple recipe I think, and if one that M GmbH can concoct, more fodder to dine upon in the future...
The M3 CSL was a sales success. M GmbH managed to sell every single one of them. The dealer network admittedly struggled for a while, in the UK at least. M Division are still dining out on the CSL's reputation. The argument otherwise has long been rendered moot.
I was fortunate enough to own two of them, though a Sapphire Black model still eludes me...
The M3 GTS was a parts bin special. Engine aside, nothing on that car was bespoke, masterpiece though it was. As said by many, even CH, the CSL was more of an event.
If this track M4 mule is more CSL and less GTS then all the better. Production volume ought to be sufficiently high as to ensure sensible affordability... £75k in today's terms anyone? But at the same time limited in volume so as to ensure a sensible level of exclusivity. Say 2000 units world wide, 300-400 rhd UK models, the UK being a proportionally strong market for such variants.
Power output needn't be drastically higher than current. 17bhp more as per the original CSL would be fine. However, weight saving of a similar order - 110 kg - or more would be more than welcome, with perhaps the option of passive dampers and both manual (not for me
) and DCT.A fairly simple recipe I think, and if one that M GmbH can concoct, more fodder to dine upon in the future...
M4 or a 418d with M sport options.....
IMHO as per the csl i feel the M3/4 shoudld stand out from the crowd as per the E30's the E36's before every rotter ordered the mickey mouse kits.
E46 and E90 too similar to standard models or si it standard models looking too much like the M's.......
IMHO as per the csl i feel the M3/4 shoudld stand out from the crowd as per the E30's the E36's before every rotter ordered the mickey mouse kits.
E46 and E90 too similar to standard models or si it standard models looking too much like the M's.......
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