RE: New BMW M4 GTS spied

RE: New BMW M4 GTS spied

Tuesday 19th June 2018

New BMW M4 GTS spied

F82 GTS gets even more aggressive in new spy shots - just what's going on BMW?



Say what you will about the BMW M4 GTS, it could never be accused of lacking focus. It's a seriously potent, track ready M4 and, while not quite a GT3 beater, the GTS is without doubt a properly thrilling M car.

With this generation of 3 Series nearing its end, plus the M3 off sale because of WLTP regulations, it's a surprise to see another F82 M4 in development. But that's what we have here, a GTS seen near the Nurburgring looking even more you-wanna-take-this-outside punchy than usual.


Note for example the huge intakes and canards at the front end, the GT3 RS-aping arch vents and the gaping cutouts ahead of the doors. Even before the driver's seat there are some pretty serious changes! Along the side the sill extensions are even more prominent, while at the rear things have got really silly: the rather apologetic rear wing of the standard GTS has been replaced by an absolute whopper of a fixed spoiler, accompanied by the sort of diffuser that looks like it might grate any ankles that come too close.

Clearly, then, this car is something even more serious than a regular GTS, though nobody seems quite sure what it might be. The M3/M4 range has never gone beyond a GTS before, so this is new ground for the model. Could it be a GTS-R? The modifications here would certainly imply this is not just a mild update of the existing car.

Given the location, and looking at the overhaul, could BMW be aiming at some sort of crazy Nordschleife lap time? Hardly original, granted, but the goalposts have moved since the standard GTS clocked a 7:28 at the end of 2015. With a bit more power from the water injected, turbocharged straight-six, plus the circuit advantage of the extra aero, could the 911 GT3's 7:12 be within reach? Nobody outside of BMW can be sure for now. But count us amongst those who can't wait to find out.






Photos: S.Baldauf/S.B. Medien

Author
Discussion

Ruskins

Original Poster:

221 posts

121 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Something to rival the Project 8?

sh33n

194 posts

187 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
One thing we know for sure - it look's utterly awful; but I've never got the point of the GTS / DTM - if you want a track car, buy one designed to be that from the outset.

The good thing about the M3/4 - is that it's useable everyday while delivering thrills when required. That's removed from this car and twice the price.

Shiv_P

2,747 posts

105 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Bit too much going on at the bottom for me
However hopefully will drive better than the GTS as reviews slated the GTS?

British Beef

2,216 posts

165 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all

As this will likely cost over £140 k, it is in junior supercar price bracket and the "tuned M4" approach does not seem like value for money to me.

Considering that Porsche starts with a very good sports car and modifies heavily to create the GT3.
Mclaren starts with a full CF tub, and is every ounce a junior supercar
Audi have a wonderful V10
Mercedes has the GTS, bespoke ground up car with honking power plant from E63.
Aston Martin has ..... the badge ;-)

Then this.... M4 GTS not enough of anything to compete with the above, no matter how many CF body parts and engine / suspension tuning is done, all the compromises of a 4 seat coupe remain.


E36Dan

7,543 posts

168 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
BMW are not dumb, they are a business to sell cars, they must see a market for this?

Regardless, we shouldn't ever condemn a manufacturer for making 'wacky' cars like this. I hope it gets close to the GT3 time smile It can't be far off...

ZX10R NIN

27,604 posts

125 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
+1


E36Dan

7,543 posts

168 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Hold on - these pics are at Reader motorsport aren't they? Can we be sure that this isn't just a privateer's car, modified for the Nur?

culpz

4,884 posts

112 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
E36Dan said:
BMW are not dumb, they are a business to sell cars, they must see a market for this?

Regardless, we shouldn't ever condemn a manufacturer for making 'wacky' cars like this. I hope it gets close to the GT3 time smile It can't be far off...
Agreed. This is PH though. Always remember where you are wink


E36Dan said:
Hold on - these pics are at Reader motorsport aren't they? Can we be sure that this isn't just a privateer's car, modified for the Nur?
That was my initial thought process. Most new cars being tested at the 'Ring usually have at least some form of camouflage on them. This just seems way too open and obvious. It doesn't really leave much to the the imagination, put it that way.

Edited by culpz on Tuesday 19th June 11:33

skidskid

284 posts

141 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
E36Dan said:
Hold on - these pics are at Reader motorsport aren't they? Can we be sure that this isn't just a privateer's car, modified for the Nur?
This. My money is on it being a locals track modded car.

ZX10R NIN

27,604 posts

125 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
If it is someones GTS bravo on them for using it for what it was built for.

E36Dan

7,543 posts

168 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Plus, it still has a GTS badge on the rear... whistle

Eviltad

1,320 posts

179 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
To me, it looks like someone in the M-Division Engineering Dept has said "go play around engineers, see what you can come up with and don't worry about cost/project deadlines".

IF anything, this could be a Mule for and next-gen M4 GTS.

cuda

464 posts

240 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Must be for US market given those nasty orange reflectors up front...

WCZ

10,526 posts

194 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
skidskid said:
This. My money is on it being a locals track modded car.
same

Digga

40,321 posts

283 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Ruskins said:
Something to rival the Project 8?
My thoughts too.

WCZ said:
skidskid said:
This. My money is on it being a locals track modded car.
same
Except that on the BTG Facebook page, they reckoned it was running on BMW factory plates....

evo2073

31 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
There's a whiff of aftermarket about the look of it. Are you sure that this is an OEM product??

cheese

66 posts

282 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
E36Dan said:
Regardless, we shouldn't ever condemn a manufacturer for making 'wacky' cars like this. I hope it gets close to the GT3 time smile It can't be far off...
Quite right sir!

sydown

63 posts

209 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
I doubt very much this is a BMW test car, if it was the extra aero would be covered in camouflage of some description or it would look much more finished. Much more likely it is a development / customer car of someone like Team Schirmer. Happy to be proved wrong though.

donkmeister

8,165 posts

100 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Eviltad said:
To me, it looks like someone in the M-Division Engineering Dept has said "go play around engineers, see what you can come up with and don't worry about cost/project deadlines".
To me, it looks like someone has applied the entire Halfords/Ripspeed product line to an M4...

There's no accounting for taste! biggrin

Digga

40,321 posts

283 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Comments on BTG page and the page their shots were shared from: https://www.facebook.com/bridgetogantry/