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Originally Posted by bradleyland
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Originally Posted by stefan
I still don't get why this car, being specifically for racing, has a stock cooling system (M2 will be upgraded) and stock transmission (M2 will have DCT/manual). Why would you pick this over modifying an M2?
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Definitely read the review rather than just watch the video. I think the answer to this question (in bold) can be found in two sources:
1) The two excerpts I posted regarding spirit and purpose:
Spirit and purpose
They built this car for grassroots racing enthusiasts.
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After admiring their Z4 GT3-spec cars up front, they realized that, the further back they went, BMW’s representation was primarily from older E36 and E30 chassis. They didn’t have any modern machinery for the grass roots racers. In fact, their last real product was the M3 GT4, which wasn’t exactly bargain basement.
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Accessibility continues to be the driving force behind this car.
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The M235i Race was designed to offer an affordable access point for track day enthusiasts who want to take the next step up to club, regional or national series. Costing almost 60,000 Euros, about $81,000, it’s relatively affordable for established teams. In fact, BMW reports taking 35 orders in one day at the car’s introduction to European race teams at the Nurburgring, with enquiries continuing to come in.
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2) The fact that the M2 isn't done with development. It has been said elsewhere that BMW M intends to take lessons learned from the M235i Racing, and incorporate them in to the M2. That will give the M2 an immediate racing pedigree, which I think is a very savvy move on BMW M's part.
As for the stock cooling and transmissions system, just have a look at the price point. The key word here is accessibility. At €60k, this is the bargain of the century for homologation racing. Every change you make from the stock car costs additional money. The review says that BMW have tested the car extensively and the stock components are up to the challenge (with software tweaks). Presumably, this means they have expanded the safety envelope for limp mode so that the race car can run hotter. This isn't a car that they expect to go 100,000 miles under an extended factory warranty. It's a race car. Things are going to break.
This whole thing (the M235i Racing and delayed M2 release) is very strategic on BMW's part; they're definitely playing chess here. The strategy for the M235i Racing is to provide a gateway to grassroots racing at an accessible price point, while building a racing pedigree for the 2-series that will be used to support the marketing of the M2 as a spiritual successor to the E30 M3. Look for BMW to lean heavily on the notion of the M2 as a race car for the street. |
This is similar to what Ferrari did with the 288 GTO before launching the F40. Homologation was key to research the mechanicals in the F40 through the GTO.
At 81k this is a great car.
Maybe the cooling will suffer in very hot weather but who cares? I am thinking this car will be raced in a M235 series somewhere and we will all hear about it. Like the Ferrari challenge cup or the Porsche 911 cup using a normally aspirated engine back in the late 90s. In recent years, VW did a diesel study with their Jetta TDI cup cars. I think they ran those 2 years.