According to reports, the GTS, which return after three years, will be limited to 700 units and on the prototype spied lapping the Nürburgring, feature a pronounced rear wing, carbon fibre front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser, vented fenders, quad exhausts and gold inner M alloy wheels.
While no interior images were revealed, the GTS does sport a roll cage and will reportedly do without rear seats and have door pulls instead of handles to save weight.
Despite BMW revealing back in February that it will phase out production of the M3 by May due to the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) emissions testing requirements, the M4 will continue in its current guise till 2021, therefore making the introduction of the GTS a possibility either next year or towards the end of 2020.
An alternative theory meanwhile is that the prototype is mainly used to test new components for the forthcoming CSL, although this is purely speculative at present.
Up front, the GTS will come powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six as its predecessor, but with the addition of water injection, will likely have more power than the 368kW/600Nm offered previously. This could potentially result in the newcomer improving on the 3.8 seconds 0-100km/h sprint time and 305km/h top speed, as well as being lighter, which will validate the use of the CSL designation even more.
Expect more information to be revealed before the end of the decade.
IMAGES from motor1.com
