The new M4 DTM, powered by a two-liter turbo four, was rolled out for the first time at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in October. BMW racer and 2012 DTM champion Bruno Spengler drove the car.
The engine is built to comply with the series’ new Class 1 regulations. BMW’s release states, “The turbo engine is a key component of the new Class 1 regulations, which come into force in the 2019 DTM season. The previous V8 engines are being replaced by efficient and significantly more powerful four-cylinder turbo engines with two-liter capacity. All the modifications required to fit the new engine, in accordance with Class 1 regulations, have already been made on the BMW M4 DTM. These include alterations to the air inlets and outlets, as well as the intake and exhaust system. Further evolutionary phases, based on the new regulations, will be implemented before the new car is homologated.”
The new engine marks almost a half-century of turbo power in BMW motorsport. BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt says, “BMW turbo power has enjoyed success in motor-racing for almost 50 years. In the first year with a BMW turbo engine, back in 1969, Dieter Quester was immediately crowned European touring car champion with the BMW 2002 TI. In 1973, the BMW 2002 Turbo became the first German production automobile to feature a turbocharger. We are now adding a new chapter to this story in the DTM. Our first few kilometers of the Class 1 era went very positively. We are happy with all the functional tests. The new turbo sounds awesome. However, its most impressive attribute is its efficiency—despite being considerably more powerful than its predecessor.”
The first track test of the car with the new engine will take place on the Estoril circuit in Portugal on November 11–14.