Yes, that's right, the BMW M3 GTS isn't going to be available to U.S. customers. BMW gave no explanation in its announcement of the stripped-down weekend racer, but it probably has to do with making the thing legal for U.S. roads.
So yes, the M3 GTS can be set up for road use, but its primary purpose is serious track work. With that in mind, BMW's Motorsport division stripped the car of its rear seats, interior trim and pansy stuff like the air conditioner and stereo. They then added a roll cage, mounts for six-point seatbelts and a titanium exhaust system. Total weight is less than 3,300 pounds according to BMW.
Less weight wasn't enough though, so the Motorsport engineers also punched the V8 out to 4.4-liters. They say it makes around 450 horsepower now. Sadly, a double-clutch automatic will be the only transmission available although BMW says it was recalibrated for race use.
The chassis also received a round of race-oriented upgrades like adjustable dampers, fixed subframes and upgraded brakes. The front air dam and rear spoiler are also adjustable for tailoring the car's aero to different tracks.
felonious says:
12:00 PM, 11/ 5/09
Ah, so that's the one we've been seeing testing on the 'ring.
estreka says:
12:21 PM, 11/ 5/09
I'd take a 335i in that color.
audisport says:
12:53 PM, 11/ 5/09
That's a sick looking car. Love the color, love the wheels. Keep the spoiler, although i'm sure it wasn't just tacked on for looks.
inlinesix says:
01:01 PM, 11/ 5/09
...Beautiful...
roadburner says:
03:31 PM, 11/ 5/09
Reminds me of the old US market M3 LW- only with much more serious mojo...
hondacura4 says:
03:33 PM, 11/ 5/09
I want it in Silverstone or Space Grey.
roadburner says:
03:36 PM, 11/ 5/09
Dakar Yellow for me, or maybe Indianapolis Red...
parchisi64 says:
09:46 PM, 11/ 5/09
Kinda perplexes me that they would go that far with it...and then put an automatic in it. I understand automatics have come a long way and shift faster than a human can blah blah blah, but I've always thought that with racecars like that its better to be able to choose and hold the gears of your choice.
Somebody set me straight if I'm just way off-base.
fuhteng says:
06:14 AM, 11/ 6/09
I like the Halloween paint-job. Very festive.
roadburner says:
07:04 AM, 11/ 6/09
"Kinda perplexes me that they would go that far with it...and then put an automatic in it. I understand automatics have come a long way and shift faster than a human can blah blah blah, but I've always thought that with racecars like that its better to be able to choose and hold the gears of your choice."
The DCT isn't a true automatic; there's no torque converter and in design it is much more similar to a manual gearbox. I've spent significant set time in an E92 M3 DCT and it is an amazing bit of technology, much superior to SMG I, II, or III. What you lose in driver involvement is made up for with versatility and ultimate performance. In full auto mode you can set the shift speed so soft that it would please the typical AARP/blue hair Buick or Caddy operator, yet full-tilt-boogie manual mode shifts happen in a blink of an eye. It would be the perfect choice for me as a daily driver/track toy since my wife hates to drive a stick- which currently limits her to driving only two of the cars in my garage. That said, if I was going to be the only driver and the car was going to be a track rat I'd probably go with the manual box- but I'd still give the DCT serious consideration.
opfreakx says:
07:08 AM, 11/ 6/09
drool. How hard to import?
cr_driver says:
08:00 AM, 11/ 6/09
Reminds me of need for speed shift....
audisport says:
08:20 AM, 11/ 6/09
I bet that the US gov frowns apon factory built street cars having roll cages!!!
felonious says:
09:52 AM, 11/ 6/09
Roadburner wrote:
"... which currently limits her to driving only two of the cars in my garage."
I hate you. :)
jn4pres says:
11:44 AM, 11/ 6/09
As if the M3 isn't awesome enough. I wonder if I can order that wing for my civic?
kgrgunman says:
11:40 PM, 11/ 6/09
3,300lb's AFTER they removed everything? wow, what a porker. you can buy a midsized truck that is lighter with a full interior.
bimmerjay says:
12:37 PM, 11/ 7/09
"3,300lb's AFTER they removed everything? wow, what a porker. you can buy a midsized truck that is lighter with a full interior."
Good point. If I were you, I'd buy that lighter midsize truck and take it around the Nurburgring instead of this hefer.
roadburner says:
07:45 PM, 11/ 7/09
bimmerjay ;
LOL!
kgrgunman says:
10:39 PM, 11/ 8/09
"Good point. If I were you, I'd buy that lighter midsize truck and take it around the Nurburgring instead of this hefer."
i was simply pointing out that a lightened gutted race car should be less weight then an off the lot pickup truck. i could have used other cars, like it would be nice if the gutted track M3 was lighter then an off the lot 4 door V6 Nissan Altima.
on the other hand being the proud owner of a sports truck i'd love to buy a sub $15k tacoma and dump $60k into it and throw it around the ring, custom tubular frame, one off suspension, mid-mounted supercharged V8, heck i'd give the M3 GTS a run for it's money with more power and less weight for less money.
then again my true toy is 1/3 lighter then the gutted race M3 but it has a full interior, a/c, radio and is on the heavy side anyway.
i guess i just got the term "track car" and "sports car" confused in my head.
bimmerjay says:
11:30 PM, 11/ 9/09
"on the other hand being the proud owner of a sports truck i'd love to buy a sub $15k tacoma and dump $60k into it and throw it around the ring, custom tubular frame, one off suspension, mid-mounted supercharged V8, heck i'd give the M3 GTS a run for it's money with more power and less weight for less money."
The M3 CSL has clocked a 7:50 on the Nordschleife. Some cars with comparable/better times: Porsche 911 GT2, C6 Corvette Z06, Lambo Murcielago LP460, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorino, Mercedes CLK-DTM AMG and the Ferrari F430. If you think you can make a Tacoma go as fast around the 'ring as those cars for less money and still be street legal/crashworthy, you should be working for one of those companies!