BMW has unveiled its latest M Motorsport concept, the lightweight, 335 kW, Inca Orange, M3 GTS.

Stripped bare, the M3 Coupe-based racer features a raft of weight-saving measures including plastic rear- and side-windows, lightweight body-contoured front seats and removed rear seats.

The concept, which will spawn a limited production run of street-ready vehicles, weighs in at about 1 490 kg’s – a whopping 190 kg less than the Coupe’s curb weight of 1 680 kg.

Air conditioning has also succumbed to the diet regime, as have the navigation and radio units.

The M3 GTS’s drive train, however, is where much of the fun begins, with a purpose-built, 335 kW 4.4-litre V8, up from the base coupe’s 309 kW 4.0-litre unit. The sole transmission available will be a specially adapted seven-speed M dual clutch system borrowed from the standard M3.

The distinctive Inka Orange paintwork is a homage to early BMW race cars, including the 1973 3.0 CSL seen here.

Track ready, the M3 GTS concept includes a six-point seatbelt and roll-cage mounts. Exclusive 19-inch wheels with 255/35 tyres at the front and 285/30 at the rear, house a fixed calliper brake system with six pistons the front and four at the rear. An adjustable front splitter and rear wing also reveal its race suitability.

The car’s spiritual predecessor, the highly lauded E46 M3 CSL, hit a Nürburgring lap time of 7:50. Pundits say the M3 GTS will reach a 7:40 time, putting it on-par with such heavyweights as the Porsche 997 Turbo and Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren.

First deliveries of the M3 GTS are due to begin in Germany in May 2010, with a sticker price of €115,000 (about R1.35 million). No news whether the M3 GTS will be coming to South Africa, but if there is sufficient customer interest we’re sure BMW SA would ship a few over. Click to see the teaser video.

Adapted from CarAdvice

We’re not really fans of extreme looking mods here at SACarFan and we prefer a more understated look when it comes to styling, which is why we like IDN’s latest take on the BMW M3 Coupe with their Dakar Yellow project. The subtly modded M3 comes with selected black accessories that includes 18-inch HRE alloy wheels shod in 275/35 R18 Nitto rubber and a Vorsteiner front lip spoiler and rear diffuser, which seem to work pretty well with the Dakar Yellow paint job.

Our only objection in terms of styling are the smoked tail lights, but overall the E92 looks the part and stands out without being obnoxious. IDN’s M3 project car also features a KW suspension kit and custom made Brembo brakes.

The parts list includes:

• Brembo 365mm × 34mm front & 345mm× 28mm rear, with custom ‘Race Grey’ finish and Race Brembo font.
• HRE 18-inch monoblock race wheels.
• Nitto NT05 275/35/18 tyres all around.
• BBS stud conversion kit.
• KW Clubsport Kit.
• AA software.
• Vorsteiner polyurethane front lip spoiler (gloss black).
• Vorsteiner VRS rear diffuser type II (1×1 weave).
• Vorsteiner E92 VRS Boot Lid (1×1 weave).
• OEM M3 E92 mirror caps (gloss black).
• IND painted reflectors.
• IND painted side markers with tinted LED (gloss black).
• IND painted front grilles (gloss black).
• IND tinted rear tail lights.

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Source: M3Post