2015 BMW M4 GTS 3.0L 7AT (500 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW introduced the 2015 M4 GTS in a limited edition of just 700 units, and 300 of these crossed the Atlantic for the North American market, and those three letters added behind the M4 nameplate were not just marketing.

The German automaker had a long history of producing performance-oriented road cars and even track-oriented ones, such as the 1972 3.0 CSL, also known as the Batmobile, the 1994 M3 GT, and the 1995 M3 Lightweight (U.S. market only). The list might continue with other unique variants made to dominate race tracks during weekends. So, the 2015 M4 GTS continues this list with a high-performance version of the already very fast regular M4. For this version, BMW did what it knew best: it asked its motorsport department to create a better track car out of the F82 M4, and the engineers basically stripped down and rebuilt the vehicle and turned it into a race-ready machine able to wear license plates.

Some might consider that the M4 just got some upgrades from a local tuning store, but they couldn’t be more wrong. At the front, the GTS version featured a new, adjustable carbon fiber splitter that increased the downforce on the front axle. Furthermore, BMW redesigned the hood, added a power dome in the middle and an exhaust vent in its front area, and made it from the same race-inspired material as the splitter. Unlike its non-GTS sibling, this race-ready M4 couldn’t be optioned with fog lamps and, instead, it got functional vents that cooled some of the vehicle’s radiators.

When BMW Motorsport GmbH made the GTS, it extensively used carbon fiber not only for the front of the car but also for the doors, roof, and the trunk’s lid. The rear adjustable wing mounted on the back was also made from the same material, and it was unpainted. Finally, at the back, the automaker installed a bumper that sported a functional diffuser and four titanium exhausts. To make the car look even more special from behind, BMW installed a world-first OLED taillights, which had a continuous light pattern, unlike the dot-type offered by regular LEDs. With all these lightweight materials, and by removing most of the sound-deadening materials, the M4 GTS lost 80 kilos (176 lbs.) thanks to this extensive diet.

Inside, customers were greeted by two M bucket seats with high bolstered areas and covered in leather. Since these were made from carbon fiber, they saved about 50% of the regular M4 seats’ weight. There were no seats in the back, but instead, the automaker could offer it with a roll-cage and a fire extinguisher. The dashboard, door cards, and center console abounded in Alcantara and carbon fiber trims. Thanks to the thick steering wheel fitted with paddle shifters behind it, drivers could focus on the track only and keep their hands there all the time.

Under the skin, the M4 GTS had new lightweight aluminum arms and three-level manual adjustable suspension settings. But perhaps the most significant upgrade was for the engine. It featured a water-injection system to cool the air from the turbochargers. As a result, the boost could be increased, resulting in a whooping 493 hp (500 PS) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. It produced 68 hp (69 PS) and 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) more than the standard M4 engine. The automaker paired this S54 powerplant exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with Launch Control feature. All the oomph to the rear wheels via an electronically controlled multi-plate limited-slip differential.