Fresh Blood: BMW's M3 drinks its GTS-laced Tang

November 6, 9:56 AMAuto Industry ExaminerPhilip Alex

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Time to take on that GT3

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It uses materials like carbon fiber, titanium, and Macrolon. It's covered in adjustable lips and wings, home to racing buckets, a fire extinguisher, and not much else. And it has yellow springs.

There isn't much about this car that screams "mommy's BMW", meaning that this is one Bimmer not  concerned with getting to the Polo store in time for the sale. It exudes performance. Welcome to the manufactured-to-order M3 GTS. This is what happens when the M boys grow tired of Porsche and its GT3 RS.

The engine is custom-built in the house of M, a 4.4 liter, 450-horse monster derived from the standard M3's 4.0 liter V8. The transmission is the a 7-speed dual-clutch unit "with adapted shift characteristics", whatever that means. And the brakes? Those are fixed-caliper units housing six pistons up front and four at the back, all sitting behind the blacked-out 19's. Subtle? Not in this lifetime.

Read some selected excerpts from the press release to find out more.

Held in suspense

- threaded suspension, adjustable in compression and rebound

- rear axle support is bolted in place

Weight Watchers

- lightweight construction measures such as optimisation of the insulation

- use of lightweight parts in the interior

- Macrolon for the car's windows in the back

- lack of air conditioning, navigation and radio and the entire rear seat

- titanium rear silencer

Play it safe

- 6-point seatbelt included for use on the race track

- mounts for the roll-over protective structure bolted on from the B column

- fire extinguisher and a battery master switch/emergency shut-off

Sexy Figures:

Engine: BMW M 4.4 liter V8

Transmission: Getrag 7-speed M DCT (dual clutch transmission)

Power: 450 horsepower

Torque: N/A

Top Speed: N/A

Weight: 1490 kilograms (3,278 lbs)

Price: €115,000 (after VAT)

Availability: Germany, May 2010 ; other countries (just not America), Summer 2010

Cool as all get out: You betcha

Images: BMW via Carscoop