Johannesburg - BMW Welt, the multi-functional customer experience and exhibition facility of the German car builder, in direct proximity to the BMW headquarters in Munich in May 2016, delivered the equivalent of 34 000 horsepower – enough to power a jetliner – to clients.
As part of the company’s centenary celebrations no less than 70 BMW M vehicles, including about 45 BMW M4 GTS derivatives – each powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine with 368kW – were delivered to delighted owners residing all over the world in one day.
If one considers that each of the GTS models delivered costs a cool R2-million on average, it was also not a bad day for business for the German marque.
Headed for SA
The GTS should arrive at local dealerships in September.
How much can you expect to pay for the new model? BMW SA confirms the new M4 GTS will retail for R2 134 500.
Only 700 will be made of which 25 units are headed for SA.
I was fortunate enough to visit the impressive facility and witnessed the handover of two M4 GTS models and a host of M2 Coupe’s to Canadian customers.
Put the 34 000 Munich-made horsepower (approximately 25 300kW) in perspective...
• It can power a jetliner
It is equivalent to the power generated by two CFM56-7B27 turbofan engines with 27,300lbf (121kN or approximately 16 200hp) thrust each, that powers the Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 aircraft;
• It can power a squadron of jet trainers
It Is enough to power a full squadron (eight) South African Air Force BAE Hawk 120 jet trainers – their Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour turbofans delivering around 4 000hp each;
BMW M4 GTS: Here's how much it will cost in SA
• It can power a warship
It is as much power as what the Rolls Royce MT30 maritime gas turbine engine, based on the Trent 800 aero engine, produces which powers naval frigates, destroyers, and aircraft carriers, efficiently producing from 25 and 40 MW (34 000 to 54 000hp);
• Last but not least, it can drive the Sishen-Saldanha train
It is enough horsepower to drive the longest train in Africa – the Sishen-Saldanha train that ran on 26-27 August 1989, comprising 660 wagons and 16 locomotives (9 Class 9E 50 electric and 7 Class 37 diesel-electric). The train was 7.302 kilometres long and had a total weight of 71 765 tons.