R&T Performance Car of the Year Test

[auf Deutsch]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Full test @ http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...r-of-the-year/

The BMW M4 GTS, like the Jag, is a take on the formula that produces Alcantara racing purses from leather luxury ears. But from the moment you sink into the club-racer-style seats and pull the fabric loop that protrudes from the waffle-patterned lightweight door panels, it's obvious this is a special automobile. It boasts 493 horses with the assistance of a trick water-injection system. But in this company, that's only enough for seventh place in the horsepower ratings, ahead of the Vette and the Lotus. No, what makes this car great is the thorough and uncompromising way it has been saturated in the essence of authentic motorsport.

All you have to do is follow the GTS on the road to know it's no everyday Bimmer; the body control is sharp and quick in the best tuner tradition. Yet this is no one-trick aftermarket pony; it's the product of comprehensive fettling from the factory. "This is a weaponized BMW," features editor David Zenlea notes. "Kind of reminiscent of an old COPO Camaro or 426 'Cuda." After a few less-than-optimal experiences with the M4 on which this is based, some of us are frustrated that BMW clearly still knows how to make a traditional hot-rod Bimmer but won't let you have it unless you pay the additional $67,005 tariff for the GTS.

Former BMW mechanic and E30 owner Smith is pointed on the subject: "Not spectacular—it's the GT3 RS formula applied, with less tech and engineering time, to a heavier, duller platform. But it's quite good. I want the wing gone and that half-cage painted black. I want the composite door panels available on other 3-series. The pull straps are tacky, but I love them forever." Me too, Sam. Me too.

The Track

.... The Jag's the fastest of that group, and it does it on power: Its peak speed of 132.6 mph is comfortably above the Bimmer's at 128.1 and the AMG's at 125.4. The BMW shines in NCM West's twisty, low-speed center section. Yet it would have only tied the AMG were it not for that car's lackluster performance in the final section. Of the three, however, the M4 GTS is the clear crowd favorite.

Unlike the Jag and AMG, which are both fast with their stability control set to track mode, the Bimmer's M Dynamic mode costs multiple seconds a lap. Okulski explains his secret formula: "Full DSC off, leave steering in Sport, drivetrain in Sport, DCT shift speed at level 2." Smith agrees: "Brings back the power/grip balance BMW always had." Wolfkill is both ecstatic and cautionary: "My favorite car on track . . . but its street manners showed that impressive track performance can come at a cost."

[TSM330i]

They crashed the McLaren 570S!
Not a complete list of cars and seeing how well the 570S has done in other tests, it's a real shame it wasn't involved with the test.

[chillindrdude]

why didn't mclaren just give them another one?

i assume, R&T insurance took care of it.

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by TSM330i

Not a complete list of cars...

Seriously, I mean GTR and 911 Turbo S again? Where's the 488 and 911R?

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsch

Seriously, I mean GTR and 911 Turbo S again? Where's the 488 and 911R?

488 was in last year's test. Doubt they could get an R.

[FriskyDingo]

I'm very surprised the NSX won. No other source I've seen has had such positive thoughts on the car. It didn't fare well at MT's Best Driver Car test.

I know it's all subjective, but I can't help but feel like the Evora got robbed.

[yousefnjr]

"Car We Could Get Our Hands On and Didn't Crash Of The Year"

[hellrotm]

Road & Track's 2017 Performance Car of the Year

Nine entries including the M4 GTS

Full article: http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...r-of-the-year/


Some lap times:

[schnell325]

Oh goodness! Here we go again

[Phatcat]

Originally Posted by schnell325

Oh goodness! Here we go again

Lol oh boy, a Jaguar is quicker than GTS around the track? Get the popcorns ready....

[CanAutM3]

It is surprising how the GTS underperforms in all those magazine tests. Only 0.3 seconds faster than a C63S that weighs 500lbs more and that is on street tires ?

I don't get it .

[Towerworld]

Think they're just swayed by NSX's technology, hype and "newness" there are better cars here like the evora. Corvette lap time was impressive as hell 200 horsepower down with a a manual and still almost beat the 911.

[M2 CSL]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

It is surprising how the GTS underperforms in all those magazine tests. Only 0.3 seconds faster than a C63S that weighs 500lbs more and that is on street tires ?

I don't get it .

I know, how is this possible? I find it hard to believe a GTS is slower than a C63 on equivalent tires.

[AtlasM]

Regarding why they ended up with these cars (minus the crashed 570S):

"Entrants must be new or significantly revised for 2017, and they must be traditionally shaped cars that push the limits of high performance on both road and track. That means no high-power crossovers, no hot hatches, and no rally replicas."

[jml]

I agree, something does not smell right. Maybe the car that set the ring time was a ringer....pretty easy to do with a boosted car.

[Phatcat]

Originally Posted by jml

I agree, something does not smell right. Maybe the car that set the ring time was a ringer....pretty easy to do with a boosted car.

I don't think GTS is overrated, it's that competitions are pretty good, they all good cars.

Nor do I think GTS that set the ring time is a "boosted" car because SA ran a 7:37 on a hot day. SA specifically mentioned Jorg (the BMW test driver who spent 2 years driving the GTS around the ring) set the time on a cool day, so if SA can do a 7:37, I have no problem believing a BMW test driver who gets to pick a fast lap time is a few seconds faster.

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Road & Track's 2017 Performance Car of the Year

Nine entries including the M4 GTS

Full article: http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...r-of-the-year/


Some lap times:

The outcome wasn't what I was expecting. But again the competition has upped it game. A solid win

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by M2 CSL

I know, how is this possible? I find it hard to believe a GTS is slower than a C63 on equivalent tires.

I think with the GTS this was a preproduction, and the question is if they adjusted the suspension or left it


set as however they received it? Again that's a major downfall with this GTS ,

its only as good as its setup, I don't think BMW


probably sent engineers to adjust it back and forth for this test.

This should be able to have blistering times based upon the Burg Lap time but it so far hasn't shown it in any review.

[mirob]

Isn't the Evora 6 years old now? Has it really been "significantly revised for 2017?" What am I missing here?

[swanson]

Wacura?

[CosmosMpower]

Originally Posted by mirob

Isn't the Evora 6 years old now? Has it really been "significantly revised for 2017?" What am I missing here?

400 hp, different suspension, brakes, bodywork. Still slow for the price.

[RizOne]

Besides the Porsche, I would not consider any of the other cars in that test anyway. M4 GTS for me definitely.