As member of the press, I was invited to attend the opening of the showcase and be one of the few first people to discover the unveiling of the two Asian premieres of the show: the X3 (nice, a bit too big for me though) and the M3 GTS (very very nice, all it needed was me at the wheel and it would have been perfect).
As you can guess, I’m going to talk more about the GTS than the X3 (sorry X3 lovers). As much as I think the X3 is pulling a very good job at making and SUV look good, the fiery orange M3 GTS with its roll cage, FIA spec bucket seats and carbon fiber roof takes the cake.
The car is factory gutted (just look at the hood: no plastic, no sound proofing, just a simple bare metal hood with a layer of paint), and tips the scale at 1,490kgs. With its high revving (red line at 8,400rpm) 4.4 litres, 450hp engine powering the rear wheels and blasting the orange rocket from 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds, to a top speed of 305kph, this monster is truly something to drool about. But that’s not all. As we all know, when BMW makes something, they do it thoroughly, so since this car is their racing emblem, they fitted it not only with individual throttle butterflies for better response, but most of all, the 7-speed M dual clutch transmission that makes quasi-instant gear shifting. Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Too bad I couldn't get a test drive…
Sitting next to the M3 was Gina. Quite an interesting concept, to remove hard body panels and replace them with some engineered stretchable skin, but the result is there: Gina sports a smooth, organic feel that makes it just plain different. I’m not a big fan of the retro-looking windshield, but the rest of the car bridges the gap between a lifestyle and a sports car. Lifestyle, though, is the water in which this shark swims, as shown by the ability to change the skin of the car in about 15 minutes, making Gina a fashion accessory that can change color faster than a lady goes through her wardrobe. All you have to hope is that you won’t be the one having to fight with the skin while your other half is pampering herself. Imagine if she feels that a white skin fits her shoes color better than the black one you’ve just spend 15 minutes stretching on the frame…
Other than these highlights, BMW sported a assortment of classics and current cars, ranging from the old 507 to more recent M series models, including some of their motorbike range. Providing for all, a kids area sporting a Wii, radio controlled M3s and BMW push cars was ready to handle the little monsters while the parents were either enjoying the cars of the BMW lifestyle products such as clothes, miniature models and watches.
Speaking of watches, BMW organized a press-only challenge at the M3 racing simulator tournament during the event, with a nice BMW watch to reward the fastest around the track.
Guess what I’m wearing on my wrist now…
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