BMW Concept M4 GTS Makes Its Debuts At Pebble Beach

Yesterday, BMW M GmbH unveiled the BMW Concept M4 GTS at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in Monterey, California. A year after the launch of the BMW M4 Coupe, BMW presented an initial preview of this high-performance road/race model, the first M3/M4 special production vehicle to be sold in the US.

So what makes the BMW Concept M4 GTS so special? It use technology honed in race competition, gets a hike in power, a commitment to lightweight design and limited production numbers with unbeatable performance coupled with a powerful and exclusive driving experience.

“While the BMW M4 Coupe embodies the ideal combination of motor sport genes and unrestricted everyday usability, the BMW Concept M4 GTS previews an emotionally powerful and exclusive special model conceived with an eye for trailblazing technology and a keen focus on the race track,” explains Frank van Meel, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW M GmbH. “Despite its outstanding track ability, it is still fully road-legal. This is racing technology for the road in the truest sense.”

The BMW Concept M4 GTS builds on the BMW M4 Coupe’s dynamic and emotional use of forms. Yet its character as a high-performance special model, in which every detail has been developed to fulfil its purpose as a successful track machine, also comes immediately to the fore. The manually adjustable front splitter and rear wing – both in exposed carbon – ensure perfect aerodynamic balance on the race tracks and on the road. Another example of the engineers’ rigorous adherence to lightweight design is the CFRP (carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic) hood which lowers the car’s weight and center of gravity. A wide front air intake optimizes airflow and minimizes front axle lift.

The dynamic and exclusive presence of the BMW Concept M4 GTS is accentuated by the Frozen Dark Grey metallic exterior paint shade, with the Acid Orange accent on the front splitter creating an effective contrast. The lightweight, forged and polished light-alloy wheels in 666 M styling also feature an Acid Orange accent. The 9.5 J x 19 (front) and 10.5 J x 20 (rear) wheels are fitted with Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires (265/35 R19 at the front, 285/30 R20 at the rear). The mixed-size tires provide the ideal conduit for the stand-out dynamic attributes of the BMW Concept M4 GTS.

The engine powering the BMW Concept M4 GTS is equipped with the same water injection system that has endowed the BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car with a noticeable increase in output and torque.

This water injection system sees the engineers using the physical effect of water when vaporizing to draw the required energy from the ambient medium. The water is injected into the plenums of the intake manifold as a fine spray. When water vaporizes and goes through its phase transition absorbs heat, cooling the air intake significantly. As a result, the final compression temperature in the combustion chamber – and therefore the engine’s tendency to “knock” – is reduced, enabling the turbocharged engine to use higher boost pressure and earlier injection timing.

The technology ensures an increase in output and torque, while at the same time reducing the thermal stress on performance-relevant components and enhancing the stability and durability of the turbocharged engine. The BMW Concept M4 GTS brings high-performance technology directly from the race track to the road.

The BMW Concept M4 GTS is fitted with innovative rear lights featuring OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) technology, a new type of light source producing full-surface and homogenous illumination, not to mention an unmistakable appearance. Their low installation height of just 1.4 millimeters and the ability to actuate individual light modules which emit light to a single point provide flexibility and allow for precision.

While performance numbers, price, or a release date haven’t been released yet, more details about the BMW M4 GTS production version will be revealed at a later date, so stay tuned!