BMW M4 DTM coming to Australia

WITH increasing demand for BMW’s range of high-performance M models, BMW Australia has secured 10 ultra-exclusive M4 DTM Champion Edition coupes from the slim pickings of 200 to be shared globally.

The special edition was announced in October to celebrate the German car-maker’s victory in the 2016 German touring car championship (DTM), but with such a low number to fight over, Australia looked unlikely to get a piece of the action.

However, Australia was awarded a relatively large slice of the cake thanks to high demand for high-performance BMWs Down Under, highlighted recently by the hardcore M4 GTS that sold out before it was even officially announced.

BMW Group Australia CEO Marc Werner said the local division was honoured to be able to offer the highly desirable M4 special edition in recognition of BMW team racing driver Marco Wittman’s achievements.

“Securing five per cent of the M4 DTM Champion Edition’s global allocation is an honour for BMW in this country,” he said.

“It once again proves the popularity of M Division product Down Under. On the back of the sold-out M4 GTS, the M4 DTM Champion Edition offers similar racetrack-inspired performance with further exclusivity, and is a fitting tribute to Marco’s achievements.”

Australian customers who have already ordered a less exclusive but mechanically identical M4 GTS have been offered the option to grab a DTM instead, now that the car has been confirmed for sale here at the same $295,000 before on-road costs price as the GTS, 25 of which have been allocated to Australia from the 700 global total run.

Despite the relative exclusivity of the DTM, not one GTS customer had been tempted to swap.

BMW Group Australia product communications manager Adam Davis told GoAuto that the brand heritage of GTS carried a significant kudos in Australia and that all customers were sticking to the GTS.

“There have been previous GTS editions, obviously not in Australia but it seems to be that cache,” he said. “These people had ordered, specced it up and were waiting and have kept their order for GTS.”

Mr Davis did not say if any of the DTMs had been reserved at this stage but confirmed “they’re not sold out”.

However, interested parties are advised to act fast – in the case of the M4 GTS, all customer cars were snapped up sight unseen.

With such strong demand for M-cars, Australia is now the number-one global M-power market, with more M-models sold locally as a proportion of total BMW sales than anywhere else – 5.3 per cent.

Mr Davis highlighted the recent demand for significant M-models such as M2 and M4, and said the generosity of BMW Germany with exclusive models reflected well on the Australian market.

The M4 DTM Champion Edition is powered by a highly-strung version of the M4 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six under the ‘standard’ M4 and M3 bonnet, with a mighty 368kW and 600Nm at the loud pedal.

Increased boost pressure and massive power output was made possible with water injection, among other enhancements – an unorthodox system in road cars.

Performance is also identical to the GTS with zero to 100km/h acceleration taking just 3.8 seconds, a top speed of 305km/h and a combined fuel consumption of 8.5 litres per 100km.

DTM M4s come in just one colour – Alpine white, highlighted by the iconic light blue, dark blue and red M-colours along the waist-line, sills, extending through the carbon-fibre roof to the boot lid.

The carbon-fibre front bumper and air-dam have been modified for the DTM with additional lower vent splitter and aero fins applied for extra downforce and a race-car look.

Its bonnet, roof, instrument panel, mirror caps, side sill inserts, rear diffuser and the large fixed rear wing are also crafted from the composite material.

The DTM interior has the same modifications as the GTS with a pair of carbon-fibre Alcantara and leather-upholstered bucket seats, fire extinguisher, six-point harnesses with more conventional M-coloured seatbelts, while the roll-bar that replaces the rear seats is coloured white in place of the GTS’s orange version.

A titanium exhaust system is carried over from the GTS, as are the wheels which measure 19-inches on the front axle and 20-inch at the rear, albeit coloured in matte grey. Rubber is courtesy of Michelin in the form of track-developed Pilot Sport Cup 2.

The star-spoke wheels house carbon-ceramic brakes, while suspension is coil-over in all corners with three adjustment settings.

Despite its hardcore race-related mods, the DTM has some more luxurious carry-overs from the standard M4, such as navigation, ConnectedDrive services, air-conditioning, head-up display, adaptive LED headlights and organic LED tail-lights.