BMW M3 GTS

From its release BMW's message has been clear and simple regarding the M car. The German car makers idea right from the beginning was to develop through its "M" class the purest form of sport car performance through state of the art engineering, and then bringing it all together into a highly modified saloon car to create the Ultimate Driving Machine for the ultimate Driving experience. This of course, includes production cars from the BMW M1 to the BMW M3 and the massively-powerful BMW M5. Driving an M car you can always expect tremendous performance, amazing handling characteristics, a huge amount of stopping power along with blistering exhilaration.

However until recently, the BMW M car came only in rear-wheel drive models. But that is now a thing of the past with the introduction of the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M: These two thoroughbreds are real no-nonsense examples of how to harness BMW M to the Power X. Interestly, not only do the newer X Series cars wear the BMW M badge but they come fully optioned with an astonishing new 408 kW V8 engine whicj includes TwinPower Turbo induction system. To date, these cars are without doubt the most powerful road-going specially factory-built BMW M cars available today.

Couple this with a new substantial amount of exhaust modification and tuning and these thoroughbreds deliver a truly frightening level of output using the new generation 4.4-litre V8 engine. Ingenious designed exhaust manifolds result in a revolutionary outlet pipe that feeds the two Twin Scroll turbochargers. This in turn, guarantees an instantaneous response to the throttle.

Blistering Performance

What's even more mind-blowing is that the 408 kW doesn't stop there but can be also measured by the huge dynamic output of this engine that will easily race as high as 6,000 rpm in lightening speed. It produces a tremendous and astonishing flat 680 Nm of peak torque from 1,500 rpm all the way through to 5,650 rpm. This amount of raw power is sufficient enough to blow knock-off the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 M cars away from standstill and right through to the 100 km/h barrier in just a mere 4.7 seconds. This truly is supercar exhileration and blistering performance which incidently comes from the BMW M car with the same comfort of a full-size sports activity vehicle and/or sports Coupe.

Interestingly, all of this brute force is delivered through a six-speed fully-automatic transmission. BMW M engineers have configured this automactic transmission to easily cope with full-on-power acceleration. Put it in sport mode and the gearbox ultimately refuses to up-shift at the rev counter/limiter until it is locked-in by the driver. This of course, is done, via the shifter and/or steering wheel mounted paddles. Another feature is that gear-change times have been massively reduced which gives you an even greater race-bred feeling. A drivers can configure the driving systems settings to suit his or her own driving style. Everything from a selection of steering response maps to electronically and fully adjustable damper settings.

take a close look at the exterior of a M car and you'll notice flared front and rear valances specially designed to feed huge amounts of air to cool the power plant. In addition there are unique designed 20-inch light alloy rims gusually coupled with 315/35 rear tyres and 275/40 front tyres. Positive traction control is ensured by menas of the BMW xDrive and Dynamic Performance Control. This guarantees you of an exciting and special BMW M driving experience.

Dual Clutch Transmission

The most powerful model of the high-performance BMW M3 Coupe, the BMW M3 GTS, boasts a whopping 450hp engine ideally suited for circuit racing at club sport events, and yet it is still a road-legal car. Incorporated along with a larger and vastly more powerful V8 engine is precise tuning of the 7-speed M "Dual Clutch" Transmission with BMW DRIVELOGIC. In addition, the modified suspension technology in the BMW M3 GTS has also been specially enhanced with in regards to proper aerodynamics together with tough yet lightweight construction.

The exceptional ride and road handling characteristics of the BMW M3 GTS is a direct attributor to the fact of a perfectly balanced "power-to-weight ratio" that has now been lowered to 3.4kgs per horse power. The BMW M3 GTS features a heavy-duty transmission and suspension set-up perfectly for use on a racetrack. The M3 GTS will accelerate from zero to 99.78 km/h in as little as 4.4 seconds. The M3 GTS can cover the distance of a standing kilometre in just under 22.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 305.78 km/h.

Enhanced Drivetrain

The high-end power output of this exceptional vehicle comes by way of a high-revving 8 cylinder engine taken directly from the standard BMW M3 range. It undergoes a technical enhanced resulting in increased engine displacement, high-end power output which produces maximum torque.

The BMW M3 engine's displacement has incresed from 3,999cc to a whopping 4,361cc this being directly attributored to a cylinder stroke that's been extended from 75.2mm to 82mm. The enlarged combustion chamber now produces a power output from 420 horse power to 450 horse power with peak performance reached at 8,300rpm. Maximum torque has also been boosted from 40Nm to 440Nm, and is this is possible at an engine speed of only 3,750 rpm.

The BMW M3 heavy-duty "Dual Clutch Drivelogic" gearbox which was initially developed and engineered for the BMW M3 range is also on the BMW M3 GTS. But when compared to its original form the gear shift characteristics of the transmission have been specially modified and tuned for the BMW M3 GTS. This unique seven-speed sports transmission will shift gears without loss of power for a very fast yet extremely smooth acceleration. Dynamic tuning of the stability control function Dynamic Stability Control Plus (DSC+), including standard ABS and the BMW M Dynamic Mode (MDM), really does make significant allowances for the increased dynamic potential especially when you are talking about the BMW M3 GTS. In addition, the BMW M car comes with intermediate tyres on solid 19" matt black M light alloy rims with a Y-spoke design.

Standard Features

When we are talking about the exclusive BMW M3 GTS you only have a single choice of colour which is a unique orange. All extra model-specific features come in a matt black exterior such as the BMW kidney shape grille, exterior roof trims. The alloy rims including the side gills and vents are manufactured from dark anodised chrome.

The standard plastic roof is made from reinforced carbon-fibre and lightweight parts and components are used on the cars centre console and door panels, weight is further reduced by the use of polycarbonate for the side windows and rear windows. By doing away with the rear seats (and, reducing acoustic insulation) additional weight is also saved. The BMW M car also features a newly designed thin-walled, extremely lightweight full racing exhaust system with primary catalytic converter incorporating titanium silencers. In total, the unloaded weight of the BMW M3 GTS is just shy of 1,530kgs (DIN) which includes the roll bar and M Dual Clutch Drivelogic transmission. This is a huge 70kgs less than a standard BMW M3 Coupe. Automatic climate control air-conditioning and a high-end audio system are items available as options.

The BMW M3 GTS interior reflects a main focus on (1) Optimum performance and (2) The highest level of safety on the racetrack. The range of equipment is extensive and includes thoroughbred professional racing style bucket sets, carbon fibre interior trims and an Alcantara BMW M steering wheel. It's also interesting to note that both the door and sidewall linings (in the rear compartment) are also manufactured of Alcantara.