BMW will use the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the Legends of The Autobahn car show during Monterey Car Week to present several new vehicles, including the North American debut of the M Motorsports M4 GT3, the company’s newest track-ready vehicle for customers who race.
“The BMW M4 GT3 has already amassed over 14,000 km of testing in Europe but this will be the first time it can be seen in North America,” BMW US notes in its announcement.
“The M4 GT3 features the most powerful inline 6-cylinder engine ever developed for a BMW race car since the M1 Group 5 with upwards of 590 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque mated to a paddle-shifted 6-speed transaxle and an electro-hydraulic clutch operated by an additional paddle. A new M Track Cockpit allows for most programming and operation of the car through on-board menus eliminating the need for an external laptop.”
The car, which is priced at $530,000 (deliveries starting in the first quarter of 2022), also features a steering wheel developed with Fanatec that can be used not only in the vehicle but on racing simulators.
“The Rolex Reunion attendees will also be able to have a close look at one of BMW Motorsports’ 2020 M4 DTM cars – clearly a development pinnacle of the recent DTM formula,” BMW US said of cars used in the German Touring Car racing series.
Among them will be No. 25, a ZF-sponsored M4 DTM Class 1 competitor that was raced in 2019 and 2020 by BMW Motorsport driver Philipp Eng.
In addition to the large group of new models presented, BMW will continue the M3 and M4 theme by running three historically significant M3 race cars during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports
Meanwhile, three M3 race cars with history will compete in the vintage races and will be driven by IMSA racers Bill Auberlen, Connor De Phillippi and John Edwards.
The new M3 and M4, including the M4 GT3, will be the centerpiece of a display of all generations of M3 and M4 cars at the Legends of The Autobahn Concours d’Elegance on August 14, BMW added. The Autobahn event moves this year to a new location in the Carmel Valley Village.
Also at that event will be the M5 CS, which BMW says is “quite simply the quickest and most powerful BMW production vehicle ever.”
A second BMW brand also will be featured at the Legends.
“The all-new 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 was conceived from the beginning as purely electric mobility,” the company proclaims. “The iX features BMW’s fifth generation eDrive technology built around a drive unit that unites the electric motor, power electronics, and transmission in an integrated package within a single housing.
“The iX xDrive50’s two electric motors, which operate without the use of rare earth magnets, produce a combined 516 horsepower and 564 pounds-feet of torque. Acceleration from 0-60 takes less than five seconds, and owners can expect a range of up to 300 miles.”
Also showcased is the i4, which BMW says, “blends the functionality and space of the Gran Coupe design with the instantaneous power delivery of an all-electric powertrain and the superior chassis dynamics of a BMW sports sedan.”
“Legends is also the first opportunity to see the all new Alpina B8 Gran Coupe,” BMW reports. “Building on the success of B7 Sedan and the XB7 Sports Activity Vehicle, Alpina is enhancing its presence in the premium segment with… an exclusive, low-volume, high-performance automobile that rewards the senses.”
Powered by a 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 engine producing 612 horsepower, the car hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds on its way to a reported top speed of 201 mph.
