BMW M4 GTS vs Porsche 911 GT3, can BMW teach Porsche a thing or two on the track? How do the two compare?
BMW’s M-division has always put out amazing performance machines. The BMW M4 is no exception. However, the BMW M4 GTS is made a bit more for the track than the other cars to come from BMW’s M-division. The BMW M4 GTS is probably the most track-capable M4 BMW has ever built.
When talking about cars you can race on Sunday and drive on Monday, there is probably no better example than the Porsche. The Porsche 911 GT3 was built for such a task. How does a track car from BMW compare to a track car from Porsche? Which is better, and by how much?
The BMW M4 GTS
While built for the street, the BMW M4 GTS is also built with the track in mind. The turbocharged straight-six engine now produces 493 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of peak torque. The weight of the vehicle has been reduced by almost 200 pounds and the chassis has been completely reworked with a three-way coilover suspension, an updated steering, stickier tires and a beefed up rear differential, a roll bar and other things.
Porsche 911 GT3
While BMW is renowned for their performance, Porsche is legendary. This is in large part as a result of the Porsche 911 GT3, one of the most revered performance cars on planet. Unlike the BMW, the GT3 not something that is new to Porsche. It is a formula that they have had years to perfect. It is one of the few cars in its price point that still uses a naturally aspirated flat six putting out 468 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque in a chassis that is optimized for both the street and track.
To answer the question of which is better for the track, Sport Auto took a BMW M4 GTS and the Porsche 911 GT3 to the track to battle it out. This was not just any track, it was the short Hockenheim with both cars driven by Christian Gebhardt.
BMW M4 GTS vs. Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 has lapped the Nurburgring in 7:25 while the BMW did it in 7:28. At this point, it is difficult to predict which car will do better and Hockenheim.
With Christian at the wheel, the Porsche clocked 1:09.2 while the BMW came in at 1:09.6, with the Porsche just 0.4 seconds faster.
What is really interesting to watch are the driving characteristics between the two cars. I know which vehicle I would prefer. Check out the video below to see how the track-based masters compare.