It takes some doing to drift a car, although drivers would have no trouble admitting that the loss of traction provides that super hit of adrenaline while struggling to control the thing. While Top Gear's big-time drifting character the Stig is better at it than almost anyone, it helps to have a car built to take that punishment. Enter the BMW M3 GTS.
A V8 With 444 HP
Besides the need to have lightning speed on the steering wheel and pedals, it helps to have a seven-speed dual-clutch manual transmission, which this GTS possesses for the task. Propulsion is courtesy of a 4.4-liter V8 engine that delivers 444 horsepower channeled via rear-wheel drive when revved up to 8,300 rpm. This Bavarian buggy hits the pavement from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, achieving a top speed of 190 mph
It helps that the BMW is rather light at 3,500 lbs. and possesses a durable undercarriage to withstand all that drifting abuse. High-performance brakes might help keep the drifting in line, but those fluctuations between braking and acceleration make the ride more tolerable via coiled suspension, each with separately adjustable dampers.
M-Class BMWs Can Also Drift Up A Storm
Getting your hands on an M3 GTS might be a tad difficult since only 150 of these models were made. But other BMWs are ideal for drifting such as the M8 coupe. Even the M3 and M4 models can drift with the best of the lot, although it's probably more fun to see all the M-class wheels compete against each other.
As for the Stig, he cuts through the road with butter, skidding with nary a slip or an unexpected detour to the ditch. The repeated layers of rubber symmetrically laid out on the surface spells out how precise the Stig can be in his maneuvers, even at high speeds.
Other Drifting Contenders
While this BMW performs beautifully on tight turns and chicane-like nuances on the highway, Top Gear also offers viewers a chance to see how other vehicles rate. Also in contention on the same asphalt are an Alpine A110, a Caterham 620R, and an Aston Martin DB5. Armchair drivers, choose your ride!