The fast and the smooth

M4 DTM AND M760LI: WORTH TACKLING JO’BURG TRAFFIC

The worst news: 15 DTM models allocated to SA have already found homes.

Waking up and having to battle Joburg’s intense traffic to make it to an early flight is every motoring journalist’s worst nightmare. But it becomes a totally different type of situation to deal with when you know you are going to spend your day at a race track burning tyres of BMW’s M4 DTM and M760Li xDrive. Everything is good about the car except for one thing if not two. Only 200 units were made globally, and the 15 allocated to SA have already found homes.

Think of the M4 GTS with its roll cage, turbo straight-six with water injection technology that is said to be good for a sprint to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds on to a top speed of 305km/h

You keep the ceramic brakes, dampers you can adjust by hand, and the Cup 2 tyres. You leave out the orange wheels and replace them with something a bit more tasteful.

Then you start adding a DTM-influenced kit like the new splitter and flics at the front, and the side skirts running down the sides. Inside there is a half cage, bucket seats and Alcantara wheel.

Compared to the standard M4, this one delivers an increased power output of 368 kW (up by 5 kW) and a maximum torque of 600Nm (up by 50Nm).

Push the start button and it springs to life. On the track, I do not want to lie to you, the M4 DTM is fast, its fantastic adjustable suspension is incredibly competent on the track and makes it very quick.

In terms of luxury and spec, you get plenty from BMW navigation system Professional, air conditioning, adaptive LED headlights with BMW Selective Beam OLED taillights.

Driving excitement has been dialled up to the max.

The carbon-frame racing seats grip you tight, however, so you might find sitting on them for longer journeys uncomfortable.