BMW is celebrating the 46th birthday of their current BMW M works driver and nine-times motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi with a special edition BMW M4 CS Edition VR46.
This model will be made available in two variants, namely Sport and Style. Rossi himself was personally involved in the design process of the two versions, both of which will be built in a limited run of 46 cars. The number 46, which was made world famous as Rossi’s trademark, is prominently featured in several locations on the exterior and interior of the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46, including on the door and carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic roof.
Buyers of the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 will also be treated to a once in a lifetime experience that includes an exclusive, personal, meeting with Valentino Rossi at his home, the VR46 Motor Ranch in Tavullia Italy as well as a BMW M Driving Experience at the Misano racetrack in Italy.
Exclusive details
The BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 is differentiated by two exclusive BMW Individual paint finishes, which blend in perfectly with the exposed carbon surfaces, such as the indents in the bonnet.
Sport derivatives feature a finish in Marina Bay Blue metallic, while both sides of the car display a large 46 in a darker Tanzanite Blue metallic.
On Style variants, bodywork is finished in matt Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic, with the 46 in Frozen Marina Bay Blue metallic on both sides.
In a nod to Rossi’s favourite colour, the BMW M kidney grille outline, an accent strip over the door frames and one of the V spokes of the forged M light-alloy wheels, which as on racing cars, indicates the position of the tyre valve, are finished in bright yellow, as are the brake callipers. The carbon fibre roof, like the sides of the car, is painted by hand and adorned with a large VR46 logo and Rossi’s signature while the tailgate features VR46 lettering.
The yellow accents continue inside, where the predominant Night Blue theme is home to M Carbon bucket seats with Merino leather upholstery in the Black/Night Blue colour combination. The Sao Paulo Yellow of the Alcantara shoulder area creates an exclusive contrast while the head restraints, include a prominent yellow VR46 logo.
The M Alcantara steering wheel with three-spoke design and flat-bottomed rim incorporates yellow contrast stitching and a yellow centre marker. On the carbon-fibre centre console an Edition VR46 badge with the numbering 1/46, identifies the Sporty or Style as one of the limited-edition cars.
Under the bonnet
The beating heart of the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 is a high-revving 3.0-litre, six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology which offers 405kW, transferred to the road via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, an M xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system and the Active M Differential. This hardware all combines to facilitate a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.4 seconds and a 0-200km/h acceleration time of 11.1 seconds. The top speed of the M4 CS Edition VR46, which is also fitted with the M Driver’s Package as standard, is electronically limited to 302km/h.
46 – the trademark of an exceptional racer
The number 46 has accompanied Valentino Rossi throughout his extraordinary career as a motorcycle racer and racing driver and has become even more of a trademark than his nickname, “The Doctor”.
With nine world championships and no fewer than 115 Grand Prix victories to his name, Rossi is one of the most successful motorcycle racers in history and a global motorsport and style icon.
Since 2023, Rossi has been a BMW M works driver, plying his trade at the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3 for the BMW M Team WRT in series that include the GT World Challenge Europe and the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
