THE BMW M4 might seem like a mighty sports car for many people, but there are those who want even more performance out of this performance coupe. That’s why BMW is offering a range of special M4 models apart from the standard model, such as the M4 with Competition Package and the M4 CS.

At the top of the food chain is the race-ready M4 GTS, which is a limited-edition model with only 700 units made.

BMW Thailand offers the M4 (Bt8.399 million), M4 Competition Package (Bt8.759 million) as well as the M4 CS (Bt11.399 million).

I was lucky enough to book an M4 CS for a driving impression, and had a great time with the blue sports coupe for a week.

The muscular wheel arches give it a powerful character. There are 19-inch light alloy M wheels up front and 20-inch rims at the rear wearing low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

The M4 CS is aimed at buyers who are into motorsport or club sport, but also want a road-legal sports car. While the standard M4’s twin-turbo straight-six engine pumps out 431hp and 550Nm, the 3.0-litre engine has been tweaked for the M4 CS to deliver up to 460hp and 600Nm.

There’s a slight growl when you fire up the engine, but the M4 CS doesn’t idle with much aggression like you’d expect from the four tailpipes at the rear. You’d have to start revving the engine in order to get any respectable sound effect.

Nevertheless, acceleration from 0-100km/h drops from 4.1 seconds in the standard M4 to 3.9 seconds in the M4 CS, while the top speed is also raised, from 250km/h to 280km/h (electronically limited).

Power goes through a seven-speed M DCT double clutch gearbox, which features a separate oil cooler. The shift is generally smooth when driving in automatic mode at low speeds, while for sporty driving, the gear lever or steering wheel shift paddles can be used for sequential shifting.

I drove the M4 CS for several days and found out it’s not a difficult car to drive at all, although due to the low ground clearance, you’d likely scratch the underbody and the carbon fibre front spoiler tip pretty often (like I did).

The “comfort” mode takes off a small amount of shock from the dampers, but it’s still rock solid so never expect to get a high level of comfort in the M4 CS. The car comes with the Adaptive M suspension that has been tuned to perform well on both the road and race track – the aluminium suspension keeps unsprung masses low and that benefits driving dynamics.

Performance is also enhanced by the DSC system that comes with the M Dynamic Mode which allows drifting, and the Active M Differential. Apart from the three driving modes, the driver is also able to adjust the steering and suspension settings.

Stopping power come from M compound brakes that make squeak a little at low-speed use (a normal character), but are guaranteed to be fade-resistant when you hit it hard, with four-piston calipers up front and two-piston calipers at the rear. The brake and steering feel is tuned more towards a racing car – this is something you’ll notice at once.

Unfortunately the steering wheel is just the normal not-so-good-looking 3 Series steering that is wrapped with suede. I didn’t like it just from the way it looks as well as the bulkiness. I was also surprised that the brake and accelerator pedals were also the same as the standard 3 Series. Thankfully the rest of the interior gets better treatment.

The door panel trim is made from natural fibre (which feels cheap but surely lightweight) and has a pull loop that is pretty inconvenient to use (since it’s located too much up front). The car is low so getting in and out requires a little acrobatics. The M sports seats are like deep buckets that keep you well in place when things get rough, and there are amenities like air-conditioning as well as infotainment system, and even navigation system.

It’s a real joy that BMW is offering the M4 CS for the Thai market, although the retail pricing may not be too inspiring. Nevertheless for those who have the means and wants that track-focused performance in an everyday car, this is it.

BMW M4 CS specs

Engine: 6-cylinder 24-valve twin turbo

Displacement: 2.979cc

Bore and stroke: 84.0×89.6mm

Compression ratio: 10.2

Max power: 460hp/6,250rpm

Max torque: 600/4,000-5,380rpm

Transmission: 7-speed double clutch

Ratios: 4.806/2.593/1.701/1.277/1.000/0.844/0.671

Final drive ratio: 3.462

0-100km/h: 3.9 secs

Top speed: 280km/h

Average fuel economy: 12.3km/l

VISITORS TO this year’s Bangkok International Motor Show will get a good chance to check out the latest trends and sales promotions for automobiles.

More than 1.6 million people are expected to come to the 12-day event, held at IMPACT Muangthong Thani.

This year’s event has a good mix of highlights from every segment, ranging from luxury cars, supercars, passenger cars as well as pickup trucks and SUVs.

A total of 33 auto brands and 14 motorcycle brands are participating this year.

A larger number of automakers are also introducing electric vehicles (EVs), although most are targeted at the upper market.

The Audi e-tron is a full electric luxury SUV that is priced at slightly over Bt5 million, while the Jaguar I-Pace is priced at Bt5.499 million. Both claim operating ranges of over 400 kilometres on a single full charge.

BMW’s highlight is the X7 SUV and the Z4 roadster (the new 3 Series also come with an AI personal assistant), while arch-rival Mercedes-Benz is putting the S 560 e plugin hybrid on the centrestage. The highlight at the Lexus stand is the UX 250h hybrid SUV.

Nissan’s LEAF EV is a more affordable model retailing at the Bt2 million neighbourhood, but consumers looking for an affordable EV with regular body size might still have to wait further. Otherwise, FOMM offers a range of small EVs that are great for low-speed use.

A large number of supercars take up positions around the Challenger Hall. They include McLaren, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche and Aston Martin (which is wowing visitors with the Valkyrie AMR. Even Toyota is showing off its reincarnated Supra sports car, which is co-developed with BMW’s Z4. Small-car expert Suzuki is making a comeback into the small SUV market with the Jimny, which brings back memories of the widely popular Caribbean in the past. MG is also entering a new segment, introducing the V80 van.

Honda and Toyota will be battling out in the hybrid sedan market with the Accord and Camry, both priced under Bt2 million, while Ford is attracting more customers to its Mustang stable. The Ford Ranger Raptor is also gaining customers looking for high-end pickup trucks.

Apart from the chance to buy cars, there are also other activities at the Bangkok Motor Show, including a large number of car club meetings, driver training events and off-road driving.

The company is also recruited Two Popetorn as the first presenter for B Autohaus, Akarawatt Kongsirikan, managing director of B Autohaus Co Ltd, said.

Akarawatt said that in order to raise the company’s business potential, B Autohaus has decided to expand services by officially importing Rowen premium auto accessories from Japan, aiming to cater to more than 10,000 customers acquired through 30 years of operation in the Kingdom.

Initially B Autohaus will offer accessories for luxury MPVs such as the Toyota Voxy, Alphard and Vellfire,

as they contribute to sales of over 2,000 units annually. This is expected to help raise the company’s sales revenue by

as much as 30 per cent.

“We took more than a year in choosing the right brand and Rowen is a brand with very high potential. It’s an accessory brand that is highly popular in Japan,” he said. “We can see that in the past, Japan has had lots of brands in this product category. But only a few has suitable image, design and potential that will help in penetrate the Thai market.

“In Thailand there have been Rowen dealers in the past, and Rowen was highly popular with the BMW Z4 body kits offered 4-5 years ago,” Akarawatt said, adding that initially B Autohaus will start offering body kit packages including bumpers, spoilers, front grilles priced at Bt129,000, which comes with a 20-per cent discount for customers placing orders at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show at IMPACT Muangthong Thani.

Akarawatt said he is confident the company’s new auto accessory business will become successful because Thai customers have similar preferences as Japanese customers. Thai customers are also giving more importance to customisation, particularly those in the luxury MPV market, which is worth over Bt4 billion of per year.

The 12-day event marks the start of this year’s auto-buying season – last year more than 36,000 orders were placed for new vehicles at the show.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of BIMS, which first held at Lumpini Park in 1979.

“The Bangkok International Motor Show is internationally recognised as the greatest motor show in the Asean region, judging by the large number of global brands participating every year,” organiser Prachin Eamlumnow said at the show’s opening ceremony at the Challenger Hall.

As many as 33 automobile brands and 14 motorcycle brands are showcasing their products this year.

“This reflects the importance of BIMS as an event that helps strengthen the image as well as growth of Thailand’s automobile industry at an international level,” Prachin added.

The theme this year is “Enjoyment of Automobiles”, according to Jaturont Komolmis, vice chairman of the organising committee.

“BIMS is believed to be the only auto expo in Thailand that has been able to maintain its leadership in the events scene for 40 years,” he said. “It is also a significant index that helps reflect the active sale of automobiles in the first quarter of every year.”

Despite the increase in sales online, including new automobiles, Jaturont said he was not worried that fewer people will show up at the event to purchase vehicles.

“Even though customer behaviour has dramatically shifted from offline to online, our studies show that Thai customers still want to see, touch, feel and test-drive vehicles before making a purchase. So we believe such trends will not affect the number of visitors to the show this year,” he said.

However, he did admit that this year there are 40 per cent fewer exhibitors in the accessories hall, as most vendors appear to have adopted online sales platforms.

More than 10 new models are being introduced this year, including Audi’s e-tron electric SUV as well as plug-in hybrids from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

Honda is also showing off its new Accord (now available as hybrid version), Lexus is highlighting its UX 250h hybrid SUV, while Nissan is banking on its LEAF EV to draw in new customers.

Toyota’s focus, meanwhile, is on its Supra sports car, which has been co-developed with the BMW Z4. The small-car expert is also expanding its product portfolio in Thailand with the introduction of its imported Jimny jeep-style SUV.

The event runs until April 7.

It is the snappier moniker for Benz Auto Service Co Ltd that emerged from a rebranding in a bid to consolidate the company’s position in Thailand’s market for imported cars.

The rebadged company recently hosted the opening of the B Autohaus showroom, promoting itself as a provider of “360-degree auto services”. Alongside the showroom are AN auto service centre, a paint shop and what the company calls an auto spa.

B Autohaus’ executives say they have made a strong statement by being the first local importer to offer the new Jeep Renegade.

Expecting the upper tier of the country’s auto industry to continue growing, the company targets Bt1.2 billion in sales in 2019.

The company has named singer Two Popetorn as presenter of the brand. It says it will step up its efforts to attract high-end consumers who are passionate about premium cars and exceptional experience.

“Considering the diversity of demand for premium auto brands and first-class auto services in Thailand, we have made a decision to rebrand Benz Auto Service, a Mercedes Benz distribution business with over 30 years of experience and a team of professional experts,” says Akarawatt Kongsirikan, managing director of B Autohaus Co.

“B Autohaus has emerged as an upgraded business version with a concept of offering 360 degrees of auto services, which defines the ultimate auto service package.

“Capable of providing complete professional services to high-end luxury car owners, B Autohaus offers a wide range of imported auto brands, namely Mercedes Benz, BMW, Toyota, Porsche, Mini, Range Rover, Ford, Jeep and more.”

Akarawatt says B Autohaus is committed to bringing the world’s new auto brands and models, including fastbacks and convertibles, to the market.

“Two years ago, we were the first to import the limited Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible to the market in Thailand. This year, we are pleased to be the first local distributor of Jeep Renegade,” he says.

“We will showcase this new member of B Autohaus at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2019, which will take place on March 27. Exclusively for the event, we will touch up the Renegade with Rowen, a world famous customised auto innovation provider from Japan, for which B Autohaus is now a sole official distributor in Thailand.

“For 2019, we target a total of Bt1.2 billion in sales from premium cars and auto services, and expect 30 per cent per cent growth in our Japanese premium car sales, which should be accelerated by our exclusive Rowen distributor role.

“We are confident that the Thai auto industry will continue to grow, particularly the upper segment which has remained intact throughout the economic fluctuations. According to our sales records in the past few years, sales to high-end consumers have been rising strongly.”

Akarawatt has high hopes for the auto service and paint shop to perform well.

“Due to a number of competitors going out of business and a gap for premium auto services in the market, many premium car owners have turned to B Autohaus as we have no restrictions on who to service or any entrance fee,” he says.

“This has given us the opportunity to reach out to more consumers in the market and earn their trust professionally through our utmost expertise. With the official launch of B Autohaus, we look forward to being there for those who look for the best premium car distributor and a reliable provider of 360 degrees of best-in-class auto services.”

Suthisa Kongsirikan, business development manager of B Autohaus, said: “Committed to offering exceptional customer experience that matters, B Autohaus successfully differentiates itself from competitors with first-rate before-and-after-sales services. As we aim to be accepted as a modern and reachable lifestyle brand that is ready to be friends with anyone who has a heart for premium cars, we have come to the decision to rebrand our business and operate with three new strategies. Firstly, we have decided to be the first in the industry to have a brand presenter.

“Khun Two Popetorn, with his good image of a caring man, has been selected to take the role, and will help us expand our customer base to cover the new generations. B Autohaus and Khun Two Popetorn will collaborate in many communication campaigns and activities. In fact, we are also using his voice as the automatic voice recording of our business telephone number.

“Secondly, we have included a butler service into our service line in order to accommodate the younger generations who have different needs and requirements. We aim to offer an experience of convenience, efficiency and understanding to every customer. When they drive in for services, our butlers will be there to take their cars, provide any information they may need, and then coordinate with our auto service staff.

“For any specific detailed needs or questions, our butlers will be there. Every customer will be serviced by a personal assistance. With this new service, we are trying to offer the right premium and worry-free experience every customer of ours deserves. Lastly, B Autohaus has redesigned the whole service system, because we know that the best customer experience can only happen when all our service elements are at highest standards.

“Therefore, we have invested greatly in our employees by redesigning the entire service system and strategically training them to have the best mindset and skills. All in all, it’s delivering the perfect customer experience we are committed to mastering.”

AUDI IS MOVING ahead with expanding its product portfolio in the Thai market, and has gone a step further by introducing a pure electric vehicle (EV) in Bangkok last Thursday. The Audi e-tron 55 quattro is a 100-per-cent electric SUV that is seductively priced at Bt5.099 million, despite being fully imported from Audi’s CO2-neutral EV production facility in Belgium. It was first unveiled in the US last year, and since then more than 20,000 units of the e-tron, which is the first fully-electric production model from Audi, have been sold. While the EV market in Thailand is still comparatively young, more upmarket customers are becoming interested due to its modern and eco-friendly appeal. There are two electric motors powering the e-tron, offering as much as 402 horsepower and 664Nm (available right from the start). This allows the SUV to accelerate from rest to 100kph in 5.7 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 200kph. Higher speeds would drain the battery much quicker than usual cruising speeds. Audi claims that the e-tron can cover more than 400 kilometres on a single charge, but testers say that the usable range is about 375km, which is enough to reach many provinces in the country. But wait. Audi says that apart from the large high-voltage battery being able to store 95 kWh of energy that doesn’t require owners to recharge daily, there are solutions for long trips. In this situation, customers can use fast-charging stations to charge with direct current at up to 150kW, allowing the vehicle to be ready for another long stretch of driving in only half an hour. It also boasts a highly efficient energy recuperation system working on motor deceleration and braking. According to Audi, the e-tron can recuperate electric power to a maximum of 300Nm and 220kW, which is more than 70 per cent of its operating input. There is also a variety of home-charging options available, including pre-cooling the cabin via smartphones through the myAudi app. Extremely good aerodynamics also contribute to its fuel efficiency. While the exterior virtual mirrors may sound more like a techno gimmick, it contributes to lowering wind resistance. With the virtual mirrors, which replace conventional mirrors with tiny cameras outside and highcontrast OLED displays inside the cabin, the e-tron achieves a drag coefficient value of 0.27, which is the best in the class. In normal conditions the rear motor drives the rear wheels, and the front motor kicks in when needed – such as when cornering fast, understeering or oversteering. The battery is located between the front and rear axles, which gives it’s a centre of gravity similar to a sedan, while the front-rear weight distribution is 50-50, which would be hard to achieve with a conventional frontengine SUV. The interior features Audi’s virtual cockpit dashboard, and lots of assist systems that help ensure efficient and relaxing driving. And Audi says the e-tron will be its first model to allow customers to add certain functions online whenever the need arises, starting from mid-2019 onwards. For example the LED headlights can be upgraded to matrix LED headlights with intelligent high beams, while assist systems, infotainment extras, and an Audi smartphone interface could be added.

Audi e-tron 55  quattro specs

Electric motor Peak electrical output: 265kW

Continuous electrical output: 100kW

Peak electrical output in boost mode: 300kW

Electrical torque output: 561Nm

Electrical torque output in boost mode: 664Nm

Battery type: lithium-ion

Battery energy content: 95kWh

Transmission: Two-stage planetary gearbox with single gear

Transmission ratio (front/rear): 9.205/9.083

Final drive ratio: 9.205

Top speed: 200kph

0-100km/h: 6.6 secs (normal), 5.7 (boost mode)

Suspension (f/r): multi-link/multi-link

Steering: powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 12.2m

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,901

Width: 1,935

Height: 1,616

Wheelbase: 2,928

Track (f/r): 1,655/1.652

Weight: 2,490 kg

Wheels: 21-inch alloys

Tyres: 265/45 R21

Price: Bt5.099 million

Distributor: Audi Thailand