Four BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 headed to Oz

BMW is celebrating the 46th birthday of Italian MotoGP ace Valentino Rossi with a limited-edition version of its M3 CS, fittingly named the Edition VR46.

Paying tribute to the nine-time MotoGP world champion, who recently took part in the Bathurst 12 Hour GT3 endurance race in a BMW M4, just four examples of the 92 planned for global release will make it Down Under.

BMW will split the 92 examples of the car into batches of 46 Style and 46 Sport variants, honouring Mr Rossi’s racing number (46).

Just two examples of each are coming to Australia in Q3 of this year, each priced from an eye-watering $346,900 plus on-road costs – or $92,000 more than the ‘regular’ M4 CS.

The list price includes a money-can’t-buy visit to meet Mr Rossi at his home in Tavullia, Italy, and a BMW M driving experience at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 Style variants are characterised by their Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic paintwork with contrasting Frozen Marina Bay Blue metallic #46 lettering, while Sport variants sport Marina Bay Blue metallic with #46 lettering in Tanzanite Blue.

Both feature a vivid yellow #46 on the roof accompanied by Mr Rossi’s autograph.

The vivid yellow theme continues on the radiator grille and on the wheels and brake callipers. There is also VR46 lettering on the boot lid.

Moving inside we find black and Night Blue Merino leather upholstery contrasted with Sao Paulo Yellow Alcantara highlights and VR46 logos on the door sills, head restraints, and steering wheel 12 o’clock marker.

There is no change to the driveline of the limited-edition model with power continuing to arrive courtesy of BMW’s acclaimed twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine. Power remains listed at 405kW and torque at 650Nm, both channelled to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

However, BMW has tweaked the chassis of the vehicle, individually tuning the axle kinematics and bespoke wheel camber settings, dampers, auxiliary springs and anti-roll bars serve to “optimise steering precision, transmission of lateral control forces when cornering, spring and damping response, and wheel location”.

The electronically controlled dampers of the adaptive M suspension likewise come in a model-specific set-up, as do the electromechanical M Servotronic steering with variable ratio, and the integrated braking system.

“There is no other brand that has motorsport so deeply rooted in its DNA as BMW M,” said Mr Rossi of the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46.

“I am proud to be a BMW M works driver, and to share this passion. The fact that there is now a special VR46 edition, in which I was involved from the very beginning of the design process, makes me proud.

“When I see the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 out on the road or on the racetrack later, it will be very cool.”

Order books are now open.

2025 BMW M4 Coupe pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.