BMW M3 GTS Denied Aussie Visa !!!

csv8 · 21-05-2010, 05:03 PM

At 1500kg – about 80kg less than the Coupe -- the orange GTS is aerodynamically helped by a front racing apron and rear wing, and with features like the grille, roof trim, alloy wheels and gills finished in matt black and dark anodised chrome, the GTS is clearly track-oriented.
Too low and too loud. Those are the barriers denying the BMW M3 GTS an Australian visa.

The track-ready version from BMW’s M division doesn’t meet the Australian Design Regulations for ground clearance or decibels, says the carmakers Australian spokesman Piers Scott. “We’re not sure of the exact specs of the M3 GTS, but apparently it’s lower and louder than the limits,” he says, referring to the ADR’s restrictions for 100mm clearance and 83 decibel noise limit.

“However there will be a right-hand drive version, and although it looks like we’re not able to have it at the moment, it might change -- we’re still discussing it.” Scott says that if any of the 120 cars being built do arrive, it will be with a pricetag nearly double that of its $163,000 M3 Coupe sibling.

“I’d think it would be in the region of about $300,000, based on a rough comparison with what the price estimates in Europe have been,” he says. What it offers for the price premium is a bigger, gutsier engine – a high-revving 4.3-litre V8 that develops 331 kiloWatts of power and 440 Newton-metres of torque (the M3’s 4.0-litre offers 309kW and 400Nm) – mated to a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox that allows shift without losing traction.

At 1500kg – about 80kg less than the Coupe -- the orange GTS is aerodynamically helped by a front racing apron and rear wing, and with features like the grille, roof trim, alloy wheels and gills finished in matt black and dark anodised chrome, the GTS is clearly track-oriented.

“Obviously it is designed so that you can drive it to the track as well, but it’s very much for the track day enthusiast,” Scott says. “It’s the essence of M. The M3 is right at the core of what the M division does best and this is the M3 in its purest, most race-ready form.”

Scott acknowledges that over recent years some attention may have drifted away from the M3 as other high-powered premium cars entered the field – most noticeably from Mercedes-Benz and Audi – but says this was not the motive for building the GTS, despite the brand’s triumph over its German rivals at this week’s 24-hour Nurburgring race with the M3 GT2.

“New high-performance entrants have raised the stakes, but the M division has always pursued their own strategy. However, certainly there is a halo effect with the GTS. To some degree it’s a message for purists … stripping the car down to its most basic form, and showing the superiority of rear wheel drive over four-wheel drive as a track day car.”

Cheese3 · 21-05-2010, 05:34 PM

I love BMW and one day hopefully I'll own a M3! but there is no way in hell that 80kg less and 22kw more is worth $150k extra price tag

Rodp · 21-05-2010, 05:36 PM

No lower than your run of the mill ricer and I'm sure quieter as well.

kenz · 21-05-2010, 05:39 PM

Im sure I could find something better to spend $300k on

**DJM83** · 21-05-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenz

Im sure I could find something better to spend $300k on

Agreed

**Full Noise** · 21-05-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenz

Im sure I could find something better to spend $300k on

So could I.

300 large would get a Ford GT over here from the states.

mcnews · 23-05-2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenz

Im sure I could find something better to spend $300k on

Like a 911 GT3...

Rev28K · 23-05-2010, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenz

Im sure I could find something better to spend $300k on

Like a Borland Daytona Coupe with an LS 427 engine and the wide rear wheels option.

If you go the 911 GT3 you'd always want the RS wouldn't you.

BMW sold every one of the old M3 CSL's even though they were slightly compromised. Most of the gains seemed to be in the tyres and the later manual M3's with the competition pack had most of the performance of the CSL without the big $$. Still at least it gave them experience in productionising carbon fibre roof panels.

Looking in to the future....
BMW, Audi & MB all look to have hitched their wagon to boosted performance engines. AMG have their 6 litre twin turbo V8. BMW have their twin turbo V8 in the X5M, X6M and M5, twin turbo I6 in the next M3 and the 1 series may go for a turbo I4 (which should help the styling & packaging).

The turbo engines are good for consumption, emissions and noise levels. They are also easily tunable so that any future "hot" CSL or Black models from the manufacturers may just have higher boost. If the same engine goes in to the Mercedes C class, E class and S class they will just fiddle the boost so that the heavier cars get the big dUck engine.

Franco Cozzo · 23-05-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenz

Im sure I could find something better to spend $300k on

Two Nissan GTRs (Roughly)?

Wretched · 21-05-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

No lower than your run of the mill ricer and I'm sure quieter as well.

What "ricers" cost that much?

While I don't think near 300k is a bargain, only 120 world wide are being made and I'd say would be snapped up quickly, the OZ market is too insignificant for BMW to care.

As for the moderate power increase and weight decrease, 331kw in a 1500kg car that is track focused with warranty isn't anything to sneeze at. I'm keen to see lap times of this beast.
The standard M3 is a decent road and track car, this one takes it one step up.
With the rumoured M3 GTS-R coming out...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Wonder what AMG have planned...?

They're due for another "black" series I'd say.

Rodp · 22-05-2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wretched

What "ricers" cost that much?

It wasn't denied for import here because of its price.

Wretched · 22-05-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

It wasn't denied for import here because of its price.

My apologies, i read your post wrong. I thought you were referring to the price of the car.

Gaz · 21-05-2010, 06:23 PM

I think it's more for the type who don't have anything better to spend 300k on.

**Full Noise** · 21-05-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaz

I think it's more for the type who don't have anything better to spend 300k on.

Like people who buy Porsche Cayennes?

csv8 · 21-05-2010, 06:54 PM

or HSV Grange !!!!

pottery beige · 21-05-2010, 07:08 PM

if i was going to shave my legs and wear poofy aftershave... nice car...

Nikked · 23-05-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pottery beige

if i was going to shave my legs and wear poofy aftershave... nice car...

Your comments are naive

**Full Noise** · 23-05-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Your comments are naive

Naive?

I think you’ve missed PB’s point. As for seeing one go up against a GT3, well, I don’t think many people here really care.

Personally, I’d love to see one get blown to the weeds by a GT40 replica that cost 200 grand less driven by a bloke who doesn’t shave his legs.

geckoGT · 23-05-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Naive?

I think you’ve missed PB’s point. As for seeing one go up against a GT3, well, I don’t think many people here really care.

Personally, I’d love to see one get blown to the weeds by a GT40 replica that cost 200 grand less driven by a bloke who doesn’t shave his legs.

Well I missed his point too.

Personally I think that with a limited production of 120 units worldwide that will be snapped up before production is even finished, BMW will not give a toss that none will come to Australia. The only chance we have of seeing one on Australian soil is if someone that has more money than sense privately imports one as a track toy only (with no road registration).

**Full Noise** · 23-05-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Well I missed his point too.

Personally I think that with a limited production of 120 units worldwide that will be snapped up before production is even finished, BMW will not give a toss that none will come to Australia. The only chance we have of seeing one on Australian soil is if someone that has more money than sense privately imports one as a track toy only (with no road registration).

Fair point but at the end of the day, to me, it’s just another Beemer. This may impress some, but not me. BMW will build another hero car, it may have 10 kilowatts more and weigh 5 kilos less and have chrome krazmolical crakle pins with a carbon fibre vertical sideways switch, but so what.

If someone was serious about importing one of these for track use only, well good luck to them, but for 300 large or 350 by the time you get it here, you could build a track car that would blow it into last week.

It may be a limited build and people will see value in that so they can brag to all of the metros down at the golf club that they have a rare car.

Each to their own, but for me, I’m never going to buy one and they just don’t float my boat.

Bent8 · 23-05-2010, 12:42 PM

Always liked the M3's but this one is definitely over-priced and my guess is the latest 911 GT3 RS will be faster too...

The noise rating is a complete joke, I heard from a C63 owner that had their's tested in factory trim at just over 90 decibels !!

4Vman · 21-05-2010, 07:11 PM

Wonder what AMG have planned...?

Rev28K · 23-05-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Wonder what AMG have planned...?

Funny that you should mention them. They had problems with their CLK Black series.

It was also too low for the Aussie ADR's and they had too lift the front a bit (different springs?) to get it to pass & on sale in Australia.

jpd80 · 23-05-2010, 08:16 AM

Would love to see Ford Australia do something really outlandish.
Perhaps a rear wheel drive Focus with I-6 or V8, something FoA could build...

genebaby · 24-05-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

Would love to see Ford Australia do something really outlandish.
Perhaps a rear wheel drive Focus with I-6 or V8, something FoA could build...

One thing is for sure, Ford Australia would never try to have a car pass ADR's that would fail on being too low.

They know 4wd ride height very well.

FPV8U · 23-05-2010, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Wonder what AMG have planned...?

Will be interisting to see if they bother as the M3 is already considered the "Track Car" where the C63 is the "Street Car" preference for many.. the 2.2L Capacity doesn't hurt there.

Fireblade · 24-05-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Wonder what AMG have planned...?

That would be the SL63 or SL65 "Black" Edition?

Nikked · 23-05-2010, 11:37 AM

I would love to see this head to head with a 911 Gt-3

glavas · 23-05-2010, 01:53 PM

full noise could you even afford 300k on a new car??????

**Full Noise** · 23-05-2010, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glavas

full noise could you even afford 300k on a new car??????

Ha, that’s a good question, but one I’m not prepared to answer on a public forum. Also, whether I can afford one or if I chose to blow 300 large on a car are two different issues.