by CoMod
. No. 20030738 and Art. No. 20030739 In
the product lineup: 2015
The success story continues: BMW M4 DTM “Joey Hand”
Technical Specifications:
Weight (complete car with magnets): 106
gramsWeight (body): 29
gramsLength including spoiler: 157
mmWheelbase: 86
mmTrack width (front axle): 60
mmTrack width (rear axle): 60
mmTest Report:
The BMW M3 is a racing icon and known worldwide. But even icons are not immune to change. Since late 2013, BMW has revised the nomenclature of its vehicle lineup: Sedans retained their traditional odd-numbered model designations, whereas coupes and convertibles were given even-numbered model designations. Thus, the BMW 3 Series Coupe became the BMW 4 Series, and accordingly, the BMW M3 DTM became the BMW M4 DTM. As is well known, however, in the case of actual DTM race cars, this change affects only the exterior. In the 2014 season, American driver Joey Hand piloted the BMW M4 in the “Crowne Plaza” livery, a sponsorship he had taken over from his retired teammate Andy Priaulx. However, this was to be his third and final DTM season; with a very meager points tally, he parted ways with BMW at the end of the season.
Appearance:
Once again, the DTM cars have been very successfully recreated. The body looks harmonious all around and is faithfully proportioned to the real thing. Once again, the chosen design poses no risk of visual confusion with previously released DTM cars—which wasn’t always the case before 2012 (you can read Jörg’s report on Marco Wittmann’s 2014 championship-winning car).
Technical Specs:
Given its impressive dimensions, the total weight is perfectly acceptable. Otherwise, the chassis offers the usual features; from the decoder to the motor, everything is familiar. The lighting features SMD LEDs.
Test drive:
I was a bit disappointed here—the car feels relatively sluggish. So I quickly reprogrammed the speed setting, but without any noticeable improvement. The BMW M4 can’t keep up with the pace of the older DTM cars, even though they compete in the same weight class. Production variation or coincidence? The Wittmann car was a bit more agile, but overall also slower than the older DTM cars from 2012 onward.
Conclusion:
Great looks, unfortunately paired with somewhat disappointing performance.
*****************************************************************BMW
M4: The 2014 DTM champion is now also
With 4 wins, 1 second-place finish, and 3 fastest laps, Marco Wittmann secured the overall victory in the 2014 DTM by a clear margin of 156 to 106 points. BMW is dedicating a special model for private use to Marco Wittmann’s winning car. To match the race number, however, only 23 copies are available… if they aren’t already sold out ;-)
The model car is an absolutely faithful replica. The creases are closely aligned with the wheel wells, effectively capturing the extremely low silhouette of the DTM BMWs in the model. The decals and printing are very well executed and match the original closely. Personally, I really like the matte black surfaces running along the length of the hood, roof, and rear.
On this model, the side panels—located below the wheel wells—are mounted to the chassis. There is limited, but certainly sufficient, space in the chassis for trim weights (you may need to reroute the wiring slightly). The weight is somewhat high, distributed as 76 g for the chassis and 30 g for the body.
The wheels and axles run freely and smoothly. The tires have sufficient grip; re-grinding is not necessary—partly because of the relatively low rubber mass.
The headlight shines through slightly from outside the headlight housing; it’s bright and looks realistic. The taillight is clearly visible, and the brake light is practically impossible to miss.
The magnets hold firmly, but the vehicle accepts power readily and exhibits good acceleration. This vehicle is fun to drive even when fully equipped with magnets. Even with just a rear magnet, it’s still very stable and quick to maneuver.
See you later,
joergW
