OldGuy

I agree on the wing also BUT how are you going to put any wing on that thing and make it NOT look like a after thought. The tiny little wings they put on the M3 and a AMG C63 are about as worthless as a pushup bra on Dolly parton.

Carrera GT

What can you say? It's based on a car that weighs as much as a Panamera S (" M3 GTS tip the scales at just 1490 kg (3285 lbs), some 419 lbs less than the stock M3 coupe's 3704-lb curb weight") and it costs as much as a Panamera Turbo. Damning stats.

It has "old" RS halloween pumpkin orange. The cabin looks like a quick visit to a tuner, not a factory car at 3x the base model price.

The rear wing looks like a cheap tack-on, the brakes are about the same as a base model Carrera (and not the ceramics...) riding on similarly modest rubber. The suspension is "old school" and that might be the only commendable thing about the whole US$170K overpriced understatement.

I had no idea BMW is so far out of touch. Who's the buyer and why? Disappointing.

Jangobipbip

It's the GT3 price (115000€ here ,in Europe), for a little more weight, and a little more power, DKG gearbox revisited, brembo 6 slots, clubsport package, track ready with a lot of exclusiv details ...not that disapointing for me.....

Carrera GT

I agree that price is the primary criterion. In the US, the price discrepancy could well be absorbed by the factory pricing and the seeming inevitability that the M3 thing, should it ever grace these shores with its presence, would be a bubblery DOT-compliant bloated joke compared to the purposeful attempt (even though it still falls woefully short) in its European guise.

Frankly, I don't think BMW can be compared to Porsche (other than perhaps the Panamera vs the 5 or 7 Series ... : ) Again, the Panamera S is close to the normal BMW 3 Series weight! Good grief BMW is putting on the chubby hubby pounds!

I can't compare a 3285 claimed weight with a 3075 claimed weight when one is already a "stripper" and the other still has those cumbersome "air conditioning" and "radio" dead weight distractions ... : ) ... there must be at least a 10% power-to-weight advantage to the humble GT3 before adjusting the GT3 to reflect the absence of sound proofing and rear window glass in the M3. Plus the GT3 is rolling on much more rubber and stopped by more swept area in the rotors.

The new 7 spd dual clutch from BMW means the M3 line-up is better compared to a luxurious family car like the 997.2 Carrera S with PDK. The M3 carries 15% more displacement and two extra cylinders -- all saddled with still more curb weight by hundreds of pounds, so it's no match, but there is at least some potential to compare them.

The funny thing is, for me, that I was quite optimistic that the M3 Convertible would be great. It has good rear seats for my family, but no, the slightly more cramped and less impressive cabin of the 997 Cabrio is still a far more enjoyable place to be. All things considered.

Jangobipbip

I track a lot, and here, CSL's with ap racing and good track set up fight permanantly with GT3 's....

Porsche is a mythe, but i would not be so certain this new baby won't give GT3 owners a headache.

We can't judge until we'll see the car in action. All the rest is speculation, personnal advices, preferences etc

just my 2cents

sws1

Just another proof point to support my assertion that the RS / GT line will go the way of BMW's M line.

Car companies have found a way to milk a few more car sales out of the public...create a car that is marketed as "pretty much a race car, that you can drive on the street", and include a race-oriented wing, etc.

Can't wait for the new Hyundai GT3?

Jangobipbip

I own a GT3, but i respect other brands efforts....

BMW keeps being an impressiv motorist ...

GT3

BMW claims Nuerburgring laptime: 7:40 already achieved; same time as the 997.2 GT3 and 25 seconds faster than stock E9x M3.

Jangobipbip

If 7.40 is confirmed, it's Mpressiv!!

dsu*

i hope this hit the US shores!!! will be great to have both right? GT3 and M3 GTS LOL

Billy Wyatt

I would say with bmw's back ground in racing the 3 series they should be able to put out a competitive car.