BMW’s fabled and celebrated M-division is under new supervision these days, in the form of previous Mini brand cheif Karl Segler. It may be said that hot-hatch nancy boy has no place in somewhere like M-division, that he is too soft, but the lastest M-creation would beg to differ.
The Mini is a hugely successful brand, it’s a clear class leader across countless markets around the globe. It taps into that unmistakable rich history that the Mini brand has, and does it clearly and simply. The new Mini is built for a clear, direct purpose. It’s honest, cheerful, and swagloads of fun. Perhaps that is testament to Segler’s leadership and direction, his ability to distil and replicate everything that makes Mini great, and then to put it all into the Mini.
Here, M-divison is remembering it’s past, it’s heritage, it’s purpose. It has forgotten about the vast majority of BMW’s clientele (rich, jowling businessmen stuck in traffic each and every day) and have reached out to the real lovers of the brand. This change in direction is not dissimilar from the direction that Mini showed during its stellar ressurection in 2001.
BMW M GmbH have gloriously decided to cut the fat from the GTS, and show what it is all about. Airconditioning and sound-deadening materials have been given the flick, along with the rear seats and audio system. They are all deemed ‘unneccesary’.
A lightweight titanium exhaust system used used along with other exotic materials like ultra-light Makrolon plastics in the in rear side windows. The centre console has also been on a fairly serious diet.
The same 4.0 litre V8 is used in the GTS, but capacity has been pushed out 4.4 litres. Peak power is raised from 309kW to around 335Kw. It’s not all about power, and that is what I love. The M3 GTS weighs just under 1,500 kgs, including the super-heavy seven-speed dual-clutch ‘M DCT’ unit. There is no manual option offered, which will get the purists offside.
Compared the current trend towards inflated, overweight and overpowered supercar/mum’s taxi/granny mobile confused offerings available from all of the top marques, the M3 GTS shows a foot being pointed in the right direction. Hooray!
No manual offered? That sucks.
I was really suprised that BMW have declined to offer a manual option; potenial buyers looking for a fair-dinkum clutch will be forced to look at Porsche’s options, or something like a Corvette or even a W427 HSV.