New BMW M4 CS VR46 marks Rossi’s big day

Those not too invested in top-level sportscar racing may not have realised that Valentino Rossi is now a factory BMW driver. Having hung up his bike boots at the end of ‘21, he has campaigned an M4 GT3 for BMW M Team WRT since the 2023 season. With some success, too, including wins at Misano in the past couple of years and driving as part of the second-placed team at this year’s Bathurst 12-Hour (another M4 GT3 won it). Rossi is not just in a BMW racing car for the eyeballs – he’s in because he’s quick. 

But the extra public profile will have helped sweeten the BMW deal. It would be fair to say he’s better known than Bathurst teammates Raffaele Marciello and Charles Weersts, put it that way. So now, with the man famous for racing on two wheels and four with the number 46 actually turning 46 (last week), BMW has made Valentino Rossi a special edition to celebrate: the M4 CS Edition VR46. The Doctor himself has been involved with the design process, says BMW, and in fact, two versions of the VR46 will be offered, a Sport and a Style variant. Both use the standard running gear of the 550hp CS. 

There will be no mistaking either for a regular M4 of any description. Indeed everyone will know this is a VR46 from a mile away, because it’s just about everywhere, from ‘outsized’ graphic on the sides to the carbon roof to the boot to the seats. Still, a fairly bold visual tweak makes sense when celebrating a famously flamboyant racing driver. The Sport version is the lighter Marina Bay Blue here, with bright yellow accents (as is the Rossi trademark) for the M kidney grille and alloy wheels, the highlight on the latter also pointing to the tyre valve position. The Sport spec also gets a bright yellow stripe by the door and the same colour for the brake calipers. 

Street is slightly more subtle in Frozen Tanzanite Blue (the 46s this time in Frozen Marina Bay Blue), going as it does without the stripe, but the calipers and the badges and the giant signature on the carbon roof ensure it won’t go unnoticed. There will be just 92 units of both VR46 versions, split equally between Street and Style. There’s an individually numbered plaque inside (behind the gearlever) as well as even more VR46 emblems: see the seats and sills. No prizes for guessing the colour of the contrast stitching in both cars. 

For those who love Rossi – and heaven knows there are plenty of them – the VR46 M4 will be a dream opportunity. The fact that the CS is as brilliant to drive as it is will just be the cherry on top. There’s more than just lots of blue and bright yellow to tempt buyers as well, because every CS VR46 customer will get exclusive access to the man himself. A two-day trip to Italy is part of the deal, one that includes a visit to the VR46 Motor Ranch in Tavullia and a BMW M Driving Experience at Misano. BMW says there’ll be a barbecue and a ‘chance to talk with Valentino Rossi himself.’ We won’t say it’s a priceless opportunity, because BMW will put an exact figure on the VR46 experience very soon, but it does sound like a very exciting one. 

The man himself said: “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. When I see the BMW M4 CS Edition VR46 out on the road or on the race track later, it will be very cool.” There’s no word yet on whether any M4 CS VR46s will be allocated to the UK, though we’d like to bank on a few given our fondness for the man over here. Just be prepared for a substantial premium over the £125k asked for a standard CS – call it £146,000 perhaps…