Introducing the 2016 BMW M4 GTS with 500 HP and 7:28 Nurburgring lap time

[Swancoat]

Originally Posted by Acree

To all the people bitching about the door pull being next to the door handle, you guys do realize that the door pull is exactly that; a door pull. It's only to help close the door since the door panel has no static handle.

Yeah, we get that now, but:

A) why the hell is it at the very front of a long door? To maximize the difficulty in closing it?
B) first it looked like a copy of Porsche's cool pull straps to unlatch the door, but now it looks like a half-assed attempt to be be like Porsche.
C) what exactly is the point? Was the other door pull super heavy or something?

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Do you have evidence of this?

No...

It seems I actually was mistaken..

http://press.porsche.com/news/release.php?id=812

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...eife_lap_times

[Bosozoku]

The best way to get the M4 GTS to lap the ring faster is to add an AWD system.
Maybe BMW will finally put a hybrid xDrive system in the higher-end M cars.
Otherwise AWD cars like the Nissan GT-R will always be ahead (7:09 Nordschleife time, FYI).

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

I was never in the market for one so my view is bias, but at $50k more there are a lot more cars I would rather get. The additions are nice, but have minor performance gains and take away any real daily driving ability. I think the standard m4 is priced pretty well for what it is, but this one just doesn't make sense to me.

The additions have a "minor performance gain"??????

It has a claimed 7:28 time at the Nurburgring, placing it in 911 GT3 and Ferrari 458 territory. The M4 did it in 7:52. The GTS is a whopping 24s faster than a M4...

If that's a "minor performance gain" then I'm not sure what you consider as a useful performance gain????

The GTS is just like buying a 911 GT3 vs a Carrera. Plenty of people that track their 911 buy the GT3 even though it has less "daily driving ability"

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

The best way to get the M4 GTS to lap the ring faster is to add an AWD system.
Maybe BMW will finally put a hybrid xDrive system in the higher-end M cars.
Otherwise AWD cars like the Nissan GT-R will always be ahead (7:09 Nordschleife time, FYI).

The 7:09 time was set by a GT-R NISMO with 600hp and a "Track Pack". The official Nissan GT-R Nurburgring lap time is 7:24

Also, plenty of other RWD cars ahead of the GTS, including a Viper and Corvette. AWD adds weight and drivetrain losses. Perhaps it would be quicker with AWD or perhaps it would need more power to overcome the disadvantage of increased weight to better the 7:28 time?

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

The best way to get the M4 GTS to lap the ring faster is to add an AWD system.
Maybe BMW will finally put a hybrid xDrive system in the higher-end M cars.
Otherwise AWD cars like the Nissan GT-R will always be ahead (7:09 Nordschleife time, FYI).

The best way is to further reduce weight. It retains and improves all the good aspects of an RWD car and if enough is done make it faster than awd cars like the GT-R Nismo. The Radical with RWD and below 450bhp is proof enough that this works just fine. AWD could possibly be the cheapest way at this point though.

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Pricing in Germany has been released:

142.600 Euro (without further options)

[Bimmer6]

With the mark up 200k, I think I guessed that price a few pages back(: Insane, and would never pay that for a non-super car. Look like a regular M4 with a hideous wing which is know is for down force which makes sense. How many people will track a 200k M4 vs make it a garage queen. I'm a BMW fan, but not at 200k with the mark up. I wouldn't pay MSRP ........with a only a few hundred being made it could command 100k? The 2016 GT3 RS is going for 100k to 200k over which is foolish and its not a low production car. Hell who knows what insane pricing will occur.

[BRBM]

Originally Posted by Boss330

The additions have a "minor performance gain"??????

It has a claimed 7:28 time at the Nurburgring, placing it in 911 GT3 and Ferrari 458 territory. The M4 did it in 7:52. The GTS is a whopping 24s faster than a M4...

If that's a "minor performance gain" then I'm not sure what you consider as a useful performance gain????

The GTS is just like buying a 911 GT3 vs a Carrera. Plenty of people that track their 911 buy the GT3 even though it has less "daily driving ability"

I'm with the Boss Man. Once again, M-Division's going after that C63 AMG Black Series. And goin' hard!! Betta watch out, Black.

Hell yeah. Now, please pass down some, not all, of M4 GTS technology to the M3/M4 mid-cycle refresh......make us all even happier. Too soon? Fine.

Well, please add some to the (what should current) development of the next generation M3/4. Have not done enough of that in the past, BMW, at least not like one of your main competitors does, allowing - and forcing - them to raise the bar again with the next Black Series.

Then you keep passing down and raising the bars of both the GTS and regular M3/4 with each successive generation and/or refresh. Any questions?

I mean, let's be serious. If you're gonna be kickin' Audi-Mercedes butt in the German DTM every season, as you have in recent seasons, can't you at least share some racing tech with the production line?? Geez! Make that money! Why the hell you racing anyway?

(Okay, not so much butt-kickin' this season after 16 of 18 races.....MB's a long-awaited payback to BMW driver Bruno Spengler - you stinkin' freakin' traitor.)

But I digress, so I'm gone.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by BRBM

Hell yeah. Now, please pass down some, not all, of M4 GTS technology to the M3/M4 mid-cycle refresh......make us all even happier. Too soon? Fine.

M3 already had its mid-cycle refresh, and stops production 3 years from this month. I'm sure we'll see a mild competition pack and some special colors/trims in the next two years, but I don't think the F80 will actually get anything that we see on the GTS.

[dsad1]

Originally Posted by Boss330

The additions have a "minor performance gain"??????

It has a claimed 7:28 time at the Nurburgring, placing it in 911 GT3 and Ferrari 458 territory. The M4 did it in 7:52. The GTS is a whopping 24s faster than a M4...

If that's a "minor performance gain" then I'm not sure what you consider as a useful performance gain????

The GTS is just like buying a 911 GT3 vs a Carrera. Plenty of people that track their 911 buy the GT3 even though it has less "daily driving ability"

You are right, at this point in my life my mindset is just different. Same reason I am looking at a 911 turbo or turbo s instead of an rs. I just don't need a more track specific car even as a second or third car. I would rather have the extra luxury/daily drive ability over the extra gains on the track. By minor performance gain, I was referring to on road.

[Stage1]

Its funny to read all the comments debating the track times. Who really cares? Of the 700 or however many units sold, Id venture half wont see any track times. And the ones that do wont be on the Ring. Whats the big deal if it is 4 seconds faster than car X or 5 seconds slower than car Y? For all we care, it could run sub 7min at the ring, the price and rarity will make the car virtually unattainable to the average consumer.

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

You are right, at this point in my life my mindset is just different. Same reason I am looking at a 911 turbo or turbo s instead of an rs. I just don't need a more track specific car even as a second or third car. I would rather have the extra luxury/daily drive ability over the extra gains on the track. By minor performance gain, I was referring to on road.

Exactly which "on road" performance gains do you have in mind?

The only on road performance number we have so far is the 0-60mph time of 3,7s (compared to 3,9s for regular M4) and the 189,5MPH top speed (relevant if you drive in Germany).

That 0-60 number, allthough quicker, really does not tell much about "on road performance gains" on a canyon carver kind of vehicle that the M4 and M4 GTS is. My guess is that the GTS is also significantly quicker in all "on road" scenarios. At least we don't have any info that indicates the on road performance gains are minor...

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Bring on the M4 CSL!

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by Stage1

Its funny to read all the comments debating the track times. Who really cares? Of the 700 or however many units sold, Id venture half wont see any track times. And the ones that do wont be on the Ring. Whats the big deal if it is 4 seconds faster than car X or 5 seconds slower than car Y? For all we care, it could run sub 7min at the ring, the price and rarity will make the car virtually unattainable to the average consumer.

Have you been to the Nurburgring (or other European tracks during track days)?

Applying your logic would also render the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS useless... Or even the fact that the F8x M cars are faster than the E9x M3 around the Ring would be pointless... Many of 911 GT3's see track time (just during one mid week tourist ride session I counted 4 991 GT3's at the Ring). Most drivers are probably not capable of exploiting the extreme limits of these cars, but they are still faster and more fun on a track then a 911 Carrera is. The same will be true for a M4 GTS vs a M4. It has more power, better handling and traction, downforce instead of lift etc.

Why discuss any performance number on any car? 0-60 times, 1/4 mile times etc etc. Most people never do a lot of 0-60 runs or 1/4 mile runs...

IMHO, manufacturers make cars like this for various reasons:

-Importance of a "halo car" for the brand
-Competing with other brands
-Corporate image
-Creating a fan base

It's a track oriented car, of course lap times are important. What would the point be if a car like the GTS wasn't about being fast? BMW M has made the GTS to be a track weapon, hence the importance of fast lap times. If someone buy a GTS and choose to never drive on a track or above 60mph, then that's not BMW's fault. It's just a really bad choice of car by that person.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Stage1

Its funny to read all the comments debating the track times. Who really cares? Of the 700 or however many units sold, Id venture half wont see any track times. And the ones that do wont be on the Ring. Whats the big deal if it is 4 seconds faster than car X or 5 seconds slower than car Y? For all we care, it could run sub 7min at the ring, the price and rarity will make the car virtually unattainable to the average consumer.

Hmm afraid you might be describing the standard M4 for many owners. The M4 GTS is designed to be a track beast that is road legal really.

[solstice]

Regarding the price of the car I think it looks rather well positioned. It has very similar performance and price as the GT3. Technically and in terms of materials used it seems to be a notch above the P-car. Performance was key for this car since we knew it was going to be costly and with a sharp track focus with no added practicality vs other 2 seaters it need to compete mainly on performance. A 7:28 should be enough thankfully, it's certainly no embarrassment like revcrazy confidently stated it would be...

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by solstice

Regarding the price of the car I think it looks rather well positioned. It has very similar performance and price as the GT3. Technically and in terms of materials used it seems to be a notch above the P-car. Performance was key for this car since we knew it was going to be costly and with a sharp track focus with no added practicality vs other 2 seaters it need to compete mainly on performance. A 7:28 should be enough thankfully, it's certainly no embarrassment like revcrazy confidently stated it would be...

His posts certainly seem very misguided now...

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=115

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...4&postcount=70

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Boss330

His posts certainly seem very misguided now...

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=115

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...4&postcount=70

Yes, thankfully

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by Boss330

His posts certainly seem very misguided now...

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=115

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...4&postcount=70

Revcrazy can s_ck it now (Same with EffEighty and Alex07M3) - would love to hear their incredibly irrational response to the 7:28 ring time...

[adc]

Originally Posted by IS3andME

Lol, and do you think that Cadillac and AMG don't have a higher performance version planned? Remember Cadillac has access to the LS7, a 7.0 liter 505 hp NA V8. Which weighs less than the TT V6 that the ATS-V has. Don't under estimate those Caddy boys, when they throw down, they throw down! And AMG as well.

Well, BMW will actually follow up with a higher performance M4 model next year, the CSL. So AMG and Cadilllac, bring it on!

Funny though, you didn't mention Lexus.

[M4 LF]

Awesome car. But my first mod would be rear wing delete. I wouldn't want people to confuse that GTS with a pimped out 1995 Civic. And those hideous wheels. Seriously BMW, what the hell were you smoking?