Pebble Beach: BMW to unveil M4 GTS and new 3.0 CSL concept

Reports online suggest BMW is readying a wild M4 GTS and new 3.0 CSL Hommage concept for the prestigious Pebble Beach concours event next month.

If true, the M4 GTS -- the spiritual heir to the 2010 M3 GTS -- will take its latest instalment of the James Bond franchise that was unveiled in February.

Now it’s clear the MotoGP safety car was a ruse to produce a lightweight, faster version of the M4 after the MotoGP was seen testing at the Nurburgring with an extensive, all-new aero package -- unusual developments for a safety car.

Like the safety car, the GTS concept will benefit from the state-of-the-art 10-bar water-injection system that boosts the standard car’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six’s 317kW to a more muscular 348kW.

The innovative water-injection system works by injecting water at extremely high pressure, along with fuel, in the combustion chamber in order to provide a water, air and fuel mixture that burns efficiently without any risk of pre-ignition. Water injection also cools the inlet, feeding denser air into the engine liberating further power.

The system, inspired by motorsport, is set to become a standard part of both the M3 sedan and M4 coupe when it receives the current 3 Series facelift revisions sometime next year.

Incidentally, the water reservoir feeding the system needs to be refilled, on average, after every fifth refuel of the fuel tank.

As well as the extra power, the M4 GTS will almost certainly undergo a weight savings of up to 100kg off the regular M4’s kerbweight. New performance parts like lightweight carbon-fibre panels, a titanium exhaust system, lighter alloy wheels and infotainment and climate control delete options are almost assured.

The GTS will also feature a complete new aero that’s bound to include a huge fixed carbon-fibre rear wing.

The other car thought to be unveiled at the prestigious Pebble Beach event is a restyled version of the well-received 3.0 CSL Hommage, following BMW tweeting an almost identical picture of the Hommage’s unusual race car style steering wheel.

First shown at the the Concourso d’Eleganza Villa d'este event in May, the 3.0 CSL Hommage pays tribute to the 1970s ‘Batmobile’ 3.0 CSL road- and race car that was sold with pioneering aerodynamic spoilers.

It the rumours are true, the existence of another Hommage concept will fuel rumours that BMW could be on the verge of giving it the go-ahead for production. If so, expect a very limited run of the coupe and for it to draw heavily from the BMW i3 and i8’s carbon construction.