Want a Road and Race BMW M3 GTS?

Posted on 7 November 2009 | 1 comments

BMW’s M division is back in the business of building specialty street legal race cars with a new lightweight version of the M3 called the GTS.

Even when you see it from a distance, you are instantly electrified. As a BMW M enthusiast, every step you take towards the orange painted BMW M3 GTS with its numerous matt black applications raises your adrenaline level a little more.

Power output of the BMW M3 GTS is estimated to have around 450bhp with a power to weight ration of 300bhp per ton. Powering the M3 GTS is M divisions 4-litre V8, which is enlarged to 4.4 litres with the power going through BMW’s twin-clutch seven-speed gearbox. Other changes include a larger carbon fibre inlet manifold, reworked throttle body butterflies, cast aluminium pistons, a stiffer crankcase and revisions to the sump to provide more reliable oil scavenging at high cornering speeds as well as a titanium exhaust system.

Suspension is M3’s aluminum intensive MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension and upgrades include the utilisation of yellow springs for a threaded suspension while the rear axle support is said to be bolted in place. There’s also the adjustable front splitter and big rear wing which generates high levels of downforce for increased cornering precision and handling. The BMW M3 GTS rolls on the exclusive 19-inch aluminium wheels come wrapped inside 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tyres.

Despite the factory car having weight-saving pieces like the carbon fibre roof, BMW saw it fit to reduce body mass even further by employing light body-contoured seats, a new titanium rear silencer as the removal of air conditioning and the rear seat. Rollover protection mounts were bolted on from the B column while a fire extinguisher and a battery master switch/emergency shut-off preparation ensure safety.

BMW will only manufacture the M3 GTS to order and sell it at about €115,000 (US$170 614) per unit. German deliveries begin in May 2010 while other countries are scheduled for the summer.