Throughout history, there have been many car manufacturing companies, many have remained during the years, some have disappeared, and others had just evolved. One of the biggest companies that have prevailed is BMW. Founded in 1916, this German company is responsible for producing some of the most iconic cars in history, and the E46 M3 GTR is no exemption.
Even though this type of brand focuses on producing streetcars for the public, they also had what for some people can be an internal battle to produce a competitive race car. And the fact that, in the '90s, Porsche had a big advantage, motivated BMW to make the best race car in the world.
Joining the GT circuit, the BMW E46 M3 GTR V8 was never intended to go out onto the streets. However, due to a rule that said that for every race car in which they participated, there must be a minimum of 10 units offered to the public, the car had to be made for the street.
About The BMW E46 M3 GTR V8
Like most of the biggest motor companies, some cars stand out from the rest. From BMW's lineup, the one car that, for many enthusiasts, has the crown is the M3 GTR. A car that was 6 years ahead of having a V8, 4 L motor. The M3 GTR was a surprise when it was released in 2001.
Designed to race in American Le Mans under the GT category, this car won 7 out of the 10 events of the 2001 season, significantly beating the Porsche 911 GT3-R. After that season because of the change in the rules, it was removed from the competition. Making it next appearances in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
BMW E46 M3 GTR V8 Design
If you tried to recognize this car on the street, you'd find it difficult because it has a very similar chassis and design to that of the BMW M3 E46 that was released in 2001. It is like having an M3 from that year with a regular body kit, but everything changes when you get inside. No back seats, with a CLS vibe that makes sense because of the real purpose of the car: racing.
BMW did everything in its power to reduce this car's weight to the max. Carbon fiber everywhere, no unnecessary panels, 2 doors, a lot of airflow conducts, and more. They needed to reduce a lot of weight to compensate for the big engine that is under the hood. A 4.0 L V8 engine was way ahead of what BMW was producing at that time.
BMW E46 M3 GTR V8 Specs and Features
This car was able to compete and overpass the Porsche proposal for the GT category in the 2001 season, something that was really impressive due to the high dominance that Porsche had at that time.
If you take a close look at the engine, you will find a DOHC V8 4.0 L that produces 355 hp of power and a torque of 269 lb-ft. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. The E46 M3 GTR V8 has a big engine, much needed to compete with the Porsche 911 GT3-R.
This car is not intended to be comfortable or fuel-efficient. That’s why if you ever get inside, you will notice how hard their seats and suspension are. Fuel consumption is not normal, and even though the company tried to make it street-friendly, it's not.
The main purpose of the creation of this car was to end the battle that BMW and Porsche had been having since 1995 on the North American racing circuits. This battle was led by Porsche by far, until 2001, when BMW used a new engine, the P60B40, which was a derivation of the V10 used in the F1 but built on an E46 chassis.
What Makes the BMW E46 M3 GTR V8 So Special?
Even just looking at it and seeing what BMW was able to produce in 2001 is impressive. This car itself is going to outshine a lot of cars in the industry, but there is one very important fact that makes this car a true legend: BMW only produced 10 units in total.
What could be one of the biggest accomplishments of the brand because of the context that it was built on is also a total mystery and, to many eyes, a complete waste of a perfect motor machine. No one has ever seen this car on the streets. There is no record of it being in the possession of someone other than the company, and only a few people have had the privilege of driving it.
The closest you can get to this car is by finishing the video game, Need for Speed Most Wanted, where this car is the final achievement. You can compare it to a myth, something that you would only read about and see a few pictures of, but never forget how BMW changed the GT category by creating such an advanced car with an unusual backstory.
Source: BMW