BMW M4 GTS sees production

[Wretched]

The BMW M4 GTS is headed into limited production following its debut in lightly veiled concept car guise.

You'll need to move quickly to secure one, though. Just 700 examples of the powered up performance coupe are planned, with only a handful of those set to be allocated to Australian BMW dealerships, where deliveries are planned to begin in March 2016.

Headlining the long list of changes made to the standard M4 coupe in the creation of the limited volume GTS is the adoption of a reworked version of BMW M division's twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol engine.

The aluminium bock unit uses a new power enhancing water injection process that is also being readied for inclusion on more mainstream engines used in higher volume BMW models, according to BMW board member responsible for R&D, Klaus Froehlich.

Tested extensively on prototype versions of the new two-door coupe as well as the M4 safety car in service at this year's MotoGP championship, the new process injects a fine spray of water into the engine to lower operating temperatures.

The critical lowering of temperature helps reduce the knock threshold, allowing BMW's M division to provide the M4 GTS's engine with higher turbocharger boost pressure than that used by the standard M4.

The first ever water injection system to be included on a series production BMW model consists of three individual injector units sited in the intake plenum chamber – each of which supplies water to two of the engine's six cylinders. A pump delivers water to the injectors from a five litre tank located in the boot at a pressure of 10 bar, the quantity varying depending on load, revs and temperature.

BMW says the water tank needs topping up at every fifth re-fuelling under normal driving conditions. Under hard driving on that track, it advises the M4 GTS's water tank requires topping at each re-fuelling.

Further engine changes include the adoption of a new titanium exhaust system with larger diameter tailpipes, providing reduced back pressure.

The result is a 16 per cent or 51kW increase in peak power, with 368kW delivered at 6250rpm. This provides the 1510kg M4 GTS with a weight to power ratio of 4.1kg/kW, representing a 0.7kg/kW improvement on the standard 3384lb M4 coupe. Torque has also risen by 10 per cent or 50Nm to a new summit of 600Nm on a band of revs between 4000 and 5500rpm.

With its increased reserves channelled through a standard seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, BMW claims the rear-wheel drive M4 GTS reaches 100km/h from standstill in 3.8sec, shaving 0.3sec off the time of the standard M4. Top speed also increases by 55km/h to a limited 305km/h.

Retaining the same dramatic styling as the earlier concept wheeled out at a media event on the sidelines of this year's Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance in the US back in August, the production version of the M4 GTS receives a series of lightweight components that help to pare some 25kg from the weight of the standard M4 coupe using the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.

Included is a bonnet, front splitter element, roof, adjustable rear spoiler mounted atop the boot lid, rear diffuser and instrument panel bracing tube fashioned from carbon fibre reinforced plastic. The new BMW also receives new OLED tail lamps, making it the first production car to do so.

Further modifications are focused on the chassis, with the inclusion of coil over springs offering adjustable compression/rebound rates and larger diameter anti-roll bars attached to altered support mounts for added rigidity.

The forged and polished orange wheels are taken over directly from the earlier concept with 9.5 J x 19-inch rims at the front and 10.5 J x 20-inch at the rear. They are shod with 265/35 profile front and 285/30 profile rear Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

As a measure of the dynamic ability of the new M4 GTS, BMW claims it is capable of lapping the notorious Nurburgring circuit in Germany in 7min28sec - a time, BMW M division sources suggest, places it over 10sec ahead of the standard M4.

In keeping with its track-focused nature, BMW has also provided the M4 GTS with carbon ceramic brake discs grabbed by six-piston callipers up front and four-piston units at the rear.

Inside, there are new carbon fibre backed racing seats, an M-sports steering, lightweight door panels with door pull loops and a pared down dashboard. To save weight the rear bench seat has been also removed completely, with a carbon fibre panel covered in Alcantara taking its place up back.

BMW is yet to provide pricing details to the M4 GTS. The standard M4 coupe retails for $129,889.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/b...06-gk2w52.html

[Express]

Nice