Wednesday 26th June

G-Power takes M3 CS to 720hp, 200mph

BMW's S58 engine seems eminently tuneable - it'd be rude not to take advantage...

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It doesn’t seem that long ago that more than 700hp from 3.0-litre and six cylinders would have required forged internals, very expensive (and very large) turbos plus servicing most months. Now we live in a world where 720hp keeps almost all of the engine standard, and needs nothing more than ECU work and a racy exhaust. It remains pretty staggering. 

The latest to show just what the current generation of twin-turbo sixes can achieve is G-Power; having worked its magic on seemingly every variant of the G8x M3 so far, it has now modified the CS. Which, it would be fair to say, is the best of the bunch so far. But the German tuners believe there’s room for improvement, with performance software, a ‘DEEPTONE’ exhaust, sports downpipes and high-flow cats. The 720hp and 627lb ft means 200mph is possible - the limiter is now at 320kph - and the acceleration will surely be even stronger than a very fast 550hp standard version. A showroom fresh will do 0-124mph in 10.5 seconds. 

G-Power being G-Power, however, it hasn’t stopped with just another 200hp and some chunky exhausts. They say the cosmetic upgrades ‘make its exceptional status evident from the very first glance.’ So there are forged wheels, the Hurricane RR or Hurricane RS, upping the front diameter to 20-inch from 19 and keeping the rears at 20. There are even two options for the carbon bonnet, which is said to optimise thermal management in the engine bay as well as make people stare. It probably makes for a useful weight-saving on the front end, too, like an M5 CS. The carbon side skirts and spoiler feel less essential. G-Power badges adorn the interior and exterior in case the message hasn’t got through. 

Still, nobody is buying the current M3 and M4 to blend in, and certainly not a CS with its snoutier grille, so perhaps there’ll be demand for the cosmetic add-ons on top of the power. Whatever you go for from G-Power, though, it won’t come cheap; the additional output may come from ECU and exhaust changes, although presumably there’s a lot of development cost to recoup. Because the extra power will cost €35,000 from G-Power. So perhaps just the 550hp and fabulous M car chassis will be enough. But then there are lightly used CSes out there with £20,000 off new price, if that helps sway the 720hp decision…

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• Litchfield BMW M3 Competition Touring | PH Review
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[Motormouth88]

Typically horrendous

[WCZ]

never saw any of these in person until I went to Russia and they were everywhere!

probably less new ones bought there now considering

[stuart100]

Would be embarrassed to have it on my driveway.

[CKY]

As someone else asked on another thread, why can things like this with >700bhp only manage 200mph, when an M5 from 20 years ago with 200bhp less could manage the same feat?

[CraigyMc]

CKY said:

As someone else asked on another thread, why can things like this with >700bhp only manage 200mph, when an M5 from 20 years ago with 200bhp less could manage the same feat?

The E60 M5 had quite a small frontal area, quite a low drag design and none of the nonfunctional spoiler/diveplane bks that people glue to cars these days to say "performance".

I expect the drag on this is quite a lot higher, and in any case, it appears to be limited to 200mph rather than topping out there naturally. Often that's a stability thing (the faster you go, the more lift you have) or it's a tyre thing (2 tons versus 200mph means a load rating over the specced max).

[stuart100]

CKY said:

As someone else asked on another thread, why can things like this with >700bhp only manage 200mph, when an M5 from 20 years ago with 200bhp less could manage the same feat?

Notwithstanding all the additional weight is it perhaps gearing? Configured to accelerate better than otherwise in order to not be so much slower. Perhaps economy too, meeting the regulators emission targets, or top speed not now considered to be too relevant.

I read Lambo used to put top speed as the nr 1 priority. Now I think it's handling as they are all so fast.

[C5_Steve]

Coming to a roundabout near you soon...

[chilled901]

Take this hideous monstrocity and drive 200 mph off a cliff.

[E90_M3Ross]

CKY said:

As someone else asked on another thread, why can things like this with >700bhp only manage 200mph, when an M5 from 20 years ago with 200bhp less could manage the same feat?

I don't think the E60 could actually crack 200mph, it was the speedo indicated 200mph. That, and the fact it was probably a bit more aerodynamic.

Likewise, McLaren F1 topped 240mph with "only" 627hp.

[howardhughes]

chilled901 said:

Take this hideous monstrocity and drive 200 mph off a cliff.

Great post

[CraigyMc]

E90_M3Ross said:

CKY said:

As someone else asked on another thread, why can things like this with >700bhp only manage 200mph, when an M5 from 20 years ago with 200bhp less could manage the same feat?

I don't think the E60 could actually crack 200mph, it was the speedo indicated 200mph. That, and the fact it was probably a bit more aerodynamic.

Likewise, McLaren F1 topped 240mph with "only" 627hp.

Speedo indicated more than 200. It was 206.

[Terminator X]

Still can't get past the front end. Sales generally must be a disaster.

TX.

[HazzaT]

35k for downpipes and a remap? Are they fking mental?

[998420]

from watching Misha at the ring, almost no tuned cars hold up for a full lap of the Ring without dumping coolant etc all over the place

with an extra 200hp you might want some upgrades to the radiator, intercooler etc ?

[E90_M3Ross]

998420 said:

from watching Misha at the ring, almost no tuned cars hold up for a full lap of the Ring without dumping coolant etc all over the place

with an extra 200hp you might want some upgrades to the radiator, intercooler etc ?

The article says the bonnet vents improve cooling.

[HazzaT]

E90_M3Ross said:

The article says the bonnet vents improve cooling.

I'd be interested to see how much of a difference they make to intake temps compared to a bigger intercooler

[E90_M3Ross]

Terminator X said:

Still can't get past the front end. Sales generally must be a disaster.

TX.

It's outselling the Merc C63, current RS4 and Alfa Quadrifoglio I think.

[AmyRichardson]

E90_M3Ross said:

It's outselling the Merc C63, current RS4 and Alfa Quadrifoglio I think.

In a world where competition is 4-pot, 'meh' or a decade old, I guess even a face like a .50 exit wound can prosper...

[E90_M3Ross]

AmyRichardson said:

E90_M3Ross said:

It's outselling the Merc C63, current RS4 and Alfa Quadrifoglio I think.

In a world where competition is 4-pot, 'meh' or a decade old, I guess even a face like a .50 exit wound can prosper...

I wasn't saying it was good looking, merely saying that I don't think it's actually doing badly in sales, all things considered in the current financial climate, as an above posted implied

[smilo996]

Swap the Premier League carpark white for something more subtle. Apart from that, all good. Would prefer to have one of these than drive about looking like a complete t*t in an SUV.
The M3 V8 engined 1M they did, complete with a Supercharger, still the best sounding project they have done. Looked great too.