The GTS moniker had a short life in the BMW M portfolio, but the name will always be associated with one of the most raw street-legal M cars ever made. There were only 300 units sold in the United States and one of them ended up in the BMW USA Classic Car collection. While the BMW M4 CSL is still a show car, its predecessor M4 GTS is available for press drives. Surprisingly, even though the GTS was launched in 2016, I haven’t had a chance to get behind the wheel.
But that opportunity came up this month at the 2022 Monterey Car Week. The low mileage M4 GTS – around 5,00 miles – belongs to BMW of North America and it’s one of the most unique cars in their vast BMW Classic collection. So while media, VIPs and influencers were sipping on champagne and enjoying the latest hypercars at the iconic Quail car event, I had some other plans for the day. The morning finds me behind the wheel of a Frozen Dark Grey M4 GTS, ready to take me on some of the most iconic roads surrounding Pebble Beach and Carmel, California.
But before I jump into the driving experience, let’s explore what makes the M4 GTS a unicorn in the BMW lineup of exciting sports cars. First and foremost, the BMW M4 GTS is the first, and only production series BMW, to feature a water injection system. The engine itself is the popular S55 3.0 liter six-cylinder turbo which makes 493 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. It is mated only to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and powered only its rear wheel.
The water injection system found in the M4 GTS was co-developed by BMW and Bosch. The way the system works is essentially, above (approximately) 5,000 rpm, water is sprayed into the intake plenum via three steel-tipped diesel injectors. The water evaporates instantly, cooling the post-intercooler air by about 80 degrees to around 115-120 degree. Cooler air also means more dense airs, so more fuel can be burned to create additional power. The lower charge temperature also allows…
