BMW M4 GTS could be returning

BMW M has teased a new BMW M4 variant wearing the same front aero package as the rabid M3 CS sedan and corresponding M4 CSL coupe, via a new video surrounding the German performance brand’s recent Nurburgring lap record onslaught.

The primary goal of the day was for the new BMW M2 coupe to break the compact-car lap record at the Green Hell and, while it ultimately did that with a time of seven minutes and 38.706 seconds, the feat was somewhat overshadowed by the emergence of the semi-camouflaged M4 prototype that also took to the infamous public-road course.

There are two main theories when it comes to the identity of the mystery vehicle – which was captioned in BMW M’s German-language YouTube video only as the ‘BMW M Prototype’ – each supported by their own catalogue of clues and evidence, but one looks to be more promising than the other at this stage.

Starting with the boring theory, recent spy images have shown BMW testing facelifted M3 sedan and wagon (Touring) prototypes, each fitted with similar frontal camouflage as the maroon-coloured M4 shown in this video.

But the camo of the spied vehicles extended well onto the bonnet and the cars were fitted with new headlight clusters – units that aren’t present on the disguised M4, likely ruling it out as a facelifted M4.

So, instead, we think this mystery M4 is an early prototype of a new-generation M4 GTS or some other track-honed equivalent that’s destined to sit above the lightweight CSL.

Weight is added to this theory by the obvious inclusion of the CS and CSL-spec front splitter and also by the fact the M Prototype was positioned at the bottom of the ordered lap time leaderboard shown towards the end of the video, implying it was the fastest model of the day.

That’s an important distinction because the M4 CSL set a new Nurburgring lap record for ‘mid-range’ cars, of 7:18.137.

BMW M chief of engineering Dirk Hacker told Top Gear in May last year there was a difference in intent between the company’s CSL and GTS nameplates, with the former being more of a “lightweight” special compared to the latter’s identity as a “track tool”.

Previous M3 and M4 GTS models have been fitted with fixed rear wings and a half-roll cage behind the front seats – both attributes we have to concede are absent from the prototype.

There’s every chance one or both features will be added to the package later, but it’s also feasible BMW is reimagining the GTS recipe and cooking up something a little bit different for the G82-series M4.

We also know BMW M is working on a new ‘M4 GT3 EVO’ racer in preparation for a 2025 motorsport debut, building on the already proven capabilities of the M4 GT3 that took Valentino Rossi and his crew to victory at Road to Le Mans earlier this year, meaning there’s plenty of hardware, software and knowledge with which to shape a road-going derivative.

Whatever the M Prototype ends up being, it’s clear from the video the proven S58 straight-six turbo engine is being retained and that it will likely be a limited-run special-edition, as per the M4 CSL and previous GTS models.

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