The BMW M4 GTS is considered to be the pinnacle of performance for the current F80/F82 BMW M3/M4. It’s the car that BMW seemingly threw all of its technological and motorsport prowess at, the hardcore, stripped-out track-day special variant of the M3/M4. However, many fans and enthusiasts have been a bit underwhelmed at its performance, handling and dynamics, leaving some enthusiasts to say that they’d rather have the standard BMW M3 or M4. So Top Gear recently did a drag race between the M4 GTS and the BMW M3 Competition Package, the latter being a far more normal M3.
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Both cars are built on the same chassis, both use essentially the same engine and both are very fast. Though, there are some big differences between the two. While both cars have what is effectively the same 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 engine, the M4 GTS uses water-injection to make 493 hp, which the M3 Comp Pack makes do with just 444 hp. Despite the M3 Comp Pack having better suspension than the standard car, the M4 GTS sits on manually-adjustable coilovers that are far superior. The GTS also weighs quite a bit less and sits on Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, which are incredibly grippy. So it seems that the M4 GTS should smoke the M3 Comp Pack in a drag race.
At the start, that’s not the case. In fact, the M3 Comp Pack gets a pretty big lead on the M4 GTS off the line. Though, that’s mostly due to the M4 GTS turning its rear tires into smoke, rather than speed. The GTS struggles to find traction, no matter the setting, and suffers because of it. By the time the GTS’ wheels find grip, it starts to fly, though.
While the M3 Comp Pack made a valiant effort, it simply doesn’t have enough power to outlast the more powerful, and lighter, M4 GTS. In the quarter-mile, the BMW M4 GTS just takes the win, by the tip of its nose. However, if it had gotten a better start, it would have won by a large margin.
M4 GTS had cold tires. Cup2s are useless till they get warm, then they’re fantastic, until they overheat.
I’ll concur to that. The GTS should theoretically have the edge on acceleration.
The M4 GTS wasn’t launched properly. If it were, it would’ve been much faster than the M3 CP. However it would be interesting to see the M4 GTS vs M4 CS, as everyone knows the M4 CS is by far the best all round F81 gen M4.
Agreed! As soon as I saw this test I thought, “why not another M4, and why not the CS?” It has only 9 bhp more than a standard ZCP, while still being down around 40 from the GTS. Would be interesting!
Problem is not the launch. The GTS has cup 2s, they are notorious for being rubbish until you warm them up. Last track day I saw an MX5 spat off on turn 1 because of cold cup 2s. Once warm they grip very well, but too hot or too cold, no grip.
Okay interesting. Point remains they didn’t do a proper job. M4 GTS is way faster both around a track and in a straight line than the M4 CP. Though it would be interesting to see it against the M4 CS.
The more I see the GTS, the more I feel as though it was a chance to create something exclusive, and not so much high-performing. Nothing seems to add up, performance-wise.