BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 Bows – Just 46 Units

In case you weren't aware, retied motorcycle racing superstar Valentino Rossi has switched to four-wheeled racing, and current competes as a factory driver for BMW M.

While you may associate the name Valentino Rossi, as well as his famed ‘46’ racing number and ‘The Doctor’ nickname on two-wheels, we’ll remind you that the Italian has switched to racing four-wheelers since retiring from MotoGP at the end or 2021.

And since Dec 2022, Rossi, who coincidentally also turned 46 years old this month on Feb 16, has been racing with BMW M as one of their factory drivers piloting a BMW M4 GT3 Evo. In fact, Rossi placed as high as second driving one at the famed Bathurst 12 Hours race in Australia earlier this month too.

To honour Rossi's 46th birthday this month, BMW M have released the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 special pictured. Available in 'Sport' or 'Style' flavours, each are limited to just 46 units.

Nonetheless, to celebrate the nine-time motorcycle world champion’s 46th birthday, BMW M revealed the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 pictured earlier today with two flavours readied - ‘Sport’ and ‘Style’. No explanation needed as to why each will see just 46 units available for sale.

“There is no other brand that has motorsport so deeply rooted in its DNA as BMW M. 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,” said Rossi.

The Edition VR46 rocks a slew of yellow higlight accents for its exterior - a signature aesthetic of Rossi.

Starting with the ‘Sport’, it’s dressed in Marina Bay Blue metallic body with massive ‘46’ graphics on each side in darker Tanzanite Blue metallic. The ‘Style’ variant instead does the same with matte Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic and Frozen Marina Bay Blue metallic hues respectively. 

Besides that, both variants also wear a series of bright yellow accents – a classic and signature Rossi aesthetic style. The fact that Rossi himself was touted by BMW M to be involved in the design process for this special edition explains which.

The blue and yellow motif treatment continues with the interior too, and it features a special leather-trimmed M bucket seats plus a numbered plaque in the centre console.

This is evident in the kidney grille’s outlines, top of the door, as well as one of the V-spokes section of the forged M-spec wheels this special rides on. The same treatment is applied to the brake calipers, as well as the graphics adorned on the carbon roof.

Inside, the same blue and yellow motif is seen in its special leather-trimmed M carbon bucket seats. The steering wheel gets wrapped in Alcantara instead and rocks a yellow centre marker, whereas the carbon centre console houses a special plaque denoting each unit’s number out of 46.

BNMW M also says Edition VR46 units all benefit with beefed up chassis promising enhanced handling over the regular M4 CS model.

Aesthetics aside, Edition VR46 units also benefit with a slightly beefed-up chassis that gains bespoke wheel camber settings, auxiliary springs, anti-roll bars, special adaptive dampers programming, as well as recalibrated variable ratio steering and brakes.

Under the hood, Edition VR46 units sees the standard M4 CS model’s signature 3.0-litre in-line 6-cyl turbo mill retained, outputting 542 HP and 650 NM. Drive is managed by an 8-speed sport automatic and xDrive AWD, altogether enabling 0-100 KM/H sprints in just 3.4 secs.

All units also rock this special '46' graphics on their sides - this is Rossi's famed and signature racing number.

For now, BMW M hasn’t confirmed the price for each unit of the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46, but expect it to command a sizeable premium over the base BMW M4 CS model. For reference, the BMW M4 Competition M xDrive retails locally from RM878,800 (RM930,900 with BS & RI).

Additionally, buyers of this special will be rewarded with a two-day experience visiting Rossi’s central Italian hometown of Tavullia. It includes a special barbecue dinner session with the man himself, followed by a trackday at the nearby Misano World Circuit.