BMW M3 GTS unveiled!
by Noah Joseph on Nov 4th 2009 at 1:55PM 
BMW M3 GTS – Click above for high-res image gallery
Well that was fast. As well it should be. Because what you're looking at is the most hardcore roadgoing M3 to date. It's called the GTS – not, as had been previously speculated, the CSL, GT or GT4 Street – and after seeing a few spy shots and some speculated details, BMW has just released its first official information on the most extreme machine in its stable.
The eye-catching orange paintjob is a throwback to extreme Bimmers of yore. But after you look past the timely Halloween color scheme, you'll notice a set of exclusive 19-inch competition alloys – coated with 225/35 rubber up front and 285/30 in the rear – protruding out of the bulging bodywork, housing six-piston calipers up front and four in the rear and mounted to yellow springs and an adjustable suspension. You can hardly miss the giant front splitter and rear wing protruding from either end, and the interior's been stripped down with contoured racing buckets, an emergency cut-off switch and a fire extinguisher taking the place of the air-con, nav and radio, along with mounting points for a roll cage and six-point harnesses and a Macrolon rear windscreen to replace the stock glass, helping the M3 GTS tip the scales at just 1490 kg (3285 lbs), some 419 lbs less than the stock M3 coupe's 3704-lb curb weight.
First deliveries are scheduled to begin in Germany next May, carrying a sticker price of 115,000 euros (about $170k) before taxes. Official engine specs haven't been released, but we're still looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 450 horsepower from an enlarged 4.4-liter V8, driving through the Bavarian automaker's 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. That's about all Munich has given us so far, but we've got a gallery of photos and a video after the jump for your viewing pleasure.
Gallery: BMW M3 GTS
[Source: BMW M division]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
grand poobah 1:59PM (11/04/2009)
why a 7 spd dual clutch only? Where will be the fun driving this orangutan?
Reply
paul34 2:03PM (11/04/2009)
Well, I guess like many superfast cars today, it's built for the "numbers," and not so much the numbers AND feel/enjoyment. Of course, people who actually drive stick know that it's not all about the numbers, it's about "driving" - not "riding" with a super fast, but automatic, gearbox.
Mayoman 2:15PM (11/04/2009)
If it's ment for racing, the 7speed dual clutch will be faster around the track.
Dondonel 3:08PM (11/04/2009)
@paul34,
yes the 7spd is there for the numbers, but this GTS is still going to be raped by GTR.
waiownsyou 1:59PM (11/04/2009)
The Saudis are jumping with joy.
Reply
IK 2:08PM (11/04/2009)
no air conditioning
Ali Al-Kharouf 5:41PM (11/04/2009)
Why would we be jumping with joy? :P
Coffee Jones 8:28AM (11/05/2009)
Because every last citizen of every oil producing nation has a Veyron in his garage. :P
Mr.TiredOfEconomicDownturn 4:52AM (11/06/2009)
@ Ali Al-Kharouf:
May be not the Saudis, but perhaps the Qataris. I've seen two GT-Rs being used as daily drivers. Not really great with that suspension as some roads here aren't as great as KSA.
HotRodzNKustoms 2:02PM (11/04/2009)
$170k? That is in line with the CSL tradition! Will it be available and road legal in the US? That's all I want to know!
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madgamer 4:40PM (11/04/2009)
Available seems like a maybe, but road legal would be a no, at least as it stands. You can't sell a car in the US with the 1 piece bucket seats like it has or the cage installed. They could change those details though (I guess), just like porsche does with something like the GT3 RS.
twg 7:18PM (11/04/2009)
Very unlikely for the US, but we could see a 'competition package' consisting of the suspension upgrades. (Like last time.)
BigDumbFace 2:04PM (11/04/2009)
4.4L V8?
Is this:
a) a derivative of the N/A 4.0L V8,
b) an N/A version of the 4.4L V8 that is typically twin-turbo'd,
c) the actual twin-turbo'd powerplant, or
d) something new entirely?
Reply
MikeW 2:32PM (11/04/2009)
How about none of the above.
444hp, is only 30 more than the 414 of a stock M3.
111hp isn't unreasonable from a tuned engine.
BigDumbFace 2:46PM (11/04/2009)
Ummm.... how can it be none of the above?
This is a 4.4L engine, not 4.0L like the regular M3. It therefore can't just be 'tuned', they increased the displacement.
Or... they are using an N/A version of the 4.4L TT engine. They had said that would serve as a base for future designs, both FI and NA, some years ago. One V8 to rule them all was the intent.
Just curious which it is.
cancuno (formerly Mike) 4:53PM (11/04/2009)
LOL 'none of the above'
How is that even possible based on the options that he gave?
StickShift 9:24PM (11/04/2009)
Likely a modified version of the 4.0L already in the M3. The 4.4L TT motor would require completely new cylinder heads to operate naturally aspirated - having the reverse flow heads only make sense for a turbo application. Boring and stroking the existing motor makes far more sense to me, especially since its already tuned pretty highly. Perhaps this motor uses the same rotating assembly as the turbo 4.4L, hence the similar displacement?
BigDumbFace 7:40AM (11/05/2009)
I found a post on an M3 forum that states a legitimate source told him that it is indeed a stroked S65 (current 4.0 found in the M3) to 4.4L.
So if the source is reliable, there's my answer.
Rod 2:05PM (11/04/2009)
419lbs lighter, and yet it's still too heavy!
Reply
Mike7 2:22PM (11/04/2009)
Well, it is within about 300lbs. of the smaller, aluminum V6 Lotus Evora. Plus, unlike the Evora, it can probably fit an actual human in the back seat. Also, the new 458 is around the same weight if you want another comparison.