BMW unveils hotter M3

BMW's M3 GTS will be capable of a 305km/h top speed straight out of the box. Photo / Supplied

BMW has launched a new, hotter version of its rapid 3-Series based M3 model.

The M3 GTS should be instantly recognisable to owners of other cars; Henry Ford would surely have approved of a colour chart offering only one shade, even if, in this case, it's a lurid orange, rather than black.

Besides its bright paintwork, the GTS is 70kg lighter than the standard M3, and has quite a bit more power as well; the capacity of its V8 engine is increased from 4.0 to 4.4 litres, and it now turns out 450 instead of 420 horsepower.

The transmission is a tweaked version of the standard car's M Dual Clutch Drivelogic gearbox.

The M3 GTS is capable of 305km/h - most other fast German cars are artificially limited to 250km/h - and is aimed at owners who expect to use it as much on the track a on the road.

Pricing and local release details for the GTS are yet to be announced.

- THE INDEPENDENT