BMW M3 GTS unveiled!

[Alkazar]

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.


http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/04/bmw-m3-gts-unveiled/

[uaeimran]

Very interesting though, 450 Bhp is quite one value. It should have been offered with manual gear box.

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Originally Posted by bango

ROFL..that's actually a very interesting phenomenon. There're lots of things I adore, but wouldn't want to have them

You are very right just like the movie I m watching right now! Its russian and I have to resync the subtitles every other sec! :@


Its...Let the right one in!

P.S. Katrina isn't one of them

lol, I know it did hurt you....But baray bhai you have to get over the fact now! I know it would be hard but its not impossible! :p

For a layman like me, how good is this car in terms of performance? Is it better than an M5 priced at 85K USD?

Storm bhaiyya's thought can't be ruled out!! He's experienced..and probably right as well!
Whereas the M5 is concerned....thats previous Gen. BMW..which means like...Katrina when she 21 as you saw her...and now she;s grown into a mlif and popular and adv. ! err...SO mature! :p

[bango]

Originally Posted by Storm

With only 25 units produced per year, is it really targetted towards the roads?

And ignore me being naive, why do you think it'll be such a pain in the neck as a daily driver?

[Bilaltq]

I'd rather go for the GT3RS to be honest. The ostentatiousness that comes with the ownership of a CLK Black or a BMW M3 is so overrated!

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Originally Posted by Bilaltq

I'd rather go for the GT3RS to be honest. The ostentatiousness that comes with the ownership of a CLK Black or a BMW M3 is so overrated!

Oh - you're a loner! :p

[bango]

@Toofan : Впу�ти мен� - another of their attempts towards the paranormalities after ''Dnevni Dozor'' and ''Nochnoi dozor''.

If you're really into russian movies, try ''Brat 2'', ''Banditski Piterburg'', ''boy s tenu''.

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Not "into" Russian movies...But this one is different and good!! Infact very good... Bit slow but brilliant!!

I will try them out soon!!

[VanDaL]

with tht price i rather get a gallarado

[Storm]

And ignore me being naive, why do you think it'll be such a pain in the neck as a daily driver?

such cars are focussed to do one thing very well, there are many creature comforts that we have bencome used to which are missing in these cars. i can assure you that the ride will be stiff enough to loosen your teeth and the power delivery will be so fierce that a simple momentary lapse of concentration will lead to the car wrapping itself aroudn a lamp post.


however, on the track i think almost non of its competitors will even come close. Since i'm still dreaming,... i'd not mind having a CLK black as a daily driver and this for the weekends

[BMW7Series]

(Y)(Y)(Y)

[Alkazar]

Interview with Markus Schadow, BMW M aerodynamics development.















MPW: Mr. Schadow, the BMW M3 GTS has clearly visible dynamic measures with its front splitter and rear wing. The aerodynamics of the BMW M3 GTS is clear for all to see. Optimised for downforce. Why?

Schadow: The power which can be transferred from the contact area of the tyres to the road depends on tyre properties, the position of the tyre on the road - i.e. axle kinematics - and the wheel vertical force. Our measures are all about increasing the wheel vertical force. The higher the wheel vertical force, the higher the level of longitudinal and transverse acceleration which can be achieved.




MPW: An increase in vehicle weight would also increase wheel vertical force ...

Schadow: (laughs). That's certainly true. But more mass also generates greater forces of inertia and centrifugal forces. So this doesn’t do any good. On the contrary: the tyre-specific maximum load is reached earlier on, and the longitudinal and transverse acceleration can only be raised to this point, since above this point grip is lost. So what is required is low weight combined with maximum wheel vertical force. Which is why we generate downforce. However, the measures to increase downforce also increase aerodynamic drag. This is why they are adjustable in their effect in the BMW M3 GTS.




MPW: At the front axle, the downforce is generated by means of a longitudinally adjustable front splitter ...

Schadow: Yes, we chose this solution so as to limit the everyday suitability of the vehicle as little as possible and have sufficient ground clearance in racing set-up on the Nordschleife.




MPW: How does the front splitter actually work?

Schadow: While the car is moving, the pressure which builds up in front of the vehicle above the panel of the front splitter which is parallel to the ground is much greater than in the free stream of air below it. This creates a downforce. The lift force which you get in the standard BMW M3 is thus turned around.




MPW: And why the impressive rear wing in the BMW M3 GTS?

Schadow: The rear axle has a very important role to play in terms of drive stability. In order to be able to achieve a high level of drive stability at high speeds, we need at least as much downforce on the rear axle as on the front axle - ideally it should be significantly higher.


















MPW: Why don’t you use a diffuser?

Schadow: A diffuser which would meet the space requirements here would be far less effective than the rear wing. We would never be able to reach a level of downforce required for a reasonable aerodynamic balance. This is also why in every racing series which allows the use of a rear wing, the cars are fitted with one. The rear wing of the BMW M3 GTS generates a high level of downforce and therefore drive stability.




So we can expect some good lap times?

(laughs). You’re certainly in for a surprise!




Mr. Schadow, thank you for talking to us.





www.m-power.com

[HumanGenius]

Amazing (Y)

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Originally Posted by Alkazar

Interview with Markus Schadow, BMW M aerodynamics development.



www.m-power.com

Nice site there, Thnx for sharing!! Here are Kay Segler's views on the GTS:



MPW: What does that mean in practical terms?

Segler: The BMW M3 GTS which we are currently preparing in our BMW M production workshop is a response to frequently expressed customer wishes. This M3 is even hotter: lower weight, more power - including an increase in capacity - and lots of technical details which were only previously available on the tuning market, if at all. Complex and highly individual offers are available ex works.




MPW: What other features does the BMW M3 GTS offer?

Segler: We have a chassis which can be adjusted in compression and rebound, the car is fitted with a fixed caliper brake with six pistons at the front and four at the rear, and the rear silencer is made of titanium. The aerodynamics can be adjusted at the front and rear. We provide 6-point seatbelts for the racing bucket seats, a bolted roll-over protection structure is installed as is a fire extinguisher.




MPW: A nice package which ought to have a broad appeal.

Segler: Yes, I strongly believe it will. If there is a detail here or there which is not to somebody’s liking, that’s not the end of the world. What we are presenting is a standard configuration. If necessary, we are flexible enough to respond to specific requests, too. After all, these vehicles are built in the BMW M production workshops - where we built the M3 GT4, too.




MPW: Was that what sparked off the idea for the M3 GTS?

Segler: Partly, yes. We’ve known about fans who would like more for a long time now. There are some who would like a model which is even closer to motor racing. They want to drive the car to the race track, take part in a race and then drive home again - theoretically that is possible with the BMW M3 GTS. That’s the classic club sports idea, if you like. But collectors will also be interested in this fascinating automobile.




MPW: This brings us to an important point. What is the price and how can I order the M3 GTS?

Segler: The price for the standard configuration is 115,000 euros in Germany. Deliveries will begin next spring.




MPW: What else can we expect from BMW M in the near future?

Segler: Our leitmotif is: “Automobile dreams come true”. The M3 GTS sends out a clear signal here. The X5 M and X6 M have just gone out to dealerships and round off the top of our product range. But what I would most like to see is for BMW M to stay a young brand within people’s reach. This is why a product below the BMW M3 more important to me than a super sports car which is only accessible to a few. As I have already mentioned in other interviews, we are currently looking closely at the options in this area. I hope to be able to tell you more the next time we speak.




MPW: Dr. Segler, thank you very much for the interview.








Though it is indeed sad to hear about the demise of the CSL version, Very hard to believe yet when we compare how the E46 CSL & E92 GTS are being priced?! I'd say its absolutely ridiculous!! Lets wait for the figure on the GTS so we can compare the two....But this can't be better then the CSL..!!


Some fans would not buy this as a replacement for the CSL!! But requests can be made and shall be fulfilled for the customers as ///M says!!

[ToofaneBatameezi]

Click Click:

h1M3 GTS Not Coming to the US/h1

uh-oh!

[saad02]

not a huge fan of da spoiler...
rest of da car luks hot...