BMW unveils hotter M3

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 190mph – most other fast German cars are artificially limited to 155mph – and is aimed at owners who expect to use it as much on the track a on the road. The GTS goes on sale in the UK in January 2011; prices have not yet been announced.