Readers' Rides

Vitamin Boost | BMW M3 GTS

BY Joel Tam

Long overdue, our exclusive feature of this mad orange BMW M3 GTS is finally on our pages. Once again, words cannot express our love for this car, so we'll let our photos speak their thousand words.

Photos: Low Fai Ming

As most of you would know by now, this is no ordinary M3. The BMW M3 GTS is a lightweight performer all the way, weight is consistently optimised by features such as silencers made of titanium, the extra-light centre console and door linings, the omission of rear seats, automatic air conditioning and an audio system, as well as reduced sound insulation tailored all work to save about 100kg.

The V8 is bored to 4.4 litres and boosted to push 450 bhp. A crankcase made of a special aluminium-silicon alloy and constructed in bedplate design, individual throttle butterflies, anti-knock sensors with ion flow technology, all unique to the GTS.

Power is transmitted via the double-clutch seven-speed M DKG Drivelogic gearbox. Which shifts gears without the slightest interruption of engine power. Tailored specifically to the modified power unit of the BMW M3 GTS, the driver is able to shift gears both through the selector lever on the centre console and through special M shift paddles on the steering wheel.

Suspension tweaks have been made to the rear axle subframe, which is bolted firmly in position and the suspension features adjustment threads on the dampers for individual variation of the inbound and rebound strokes.

The high-performance brake system of the BMW M3 GTS features fixed callipers with six pistons up front and four pistons on the rear wheels. With 19-inch M light-alloy Competition rims.Aerodynamics: optimised components with variable geometry.

To optimise the flow of air and adjust the car\'s downforce as required, the BMW M3 GTS comes with a race-oriented front air dam and rear wing. The interior features classic bucket seats, interior trim in carbon and an M steering wheel finished in alcantara.