BMW M4 is MotoGP’s Safety Car: Features water injection tech for the first time! [+Video]



After making its appearance last October at the Malaysian MotoGP race, the F82 BMW M4 Coupé will yet again be leading the Safety Car fleet in this year’s MotoGP season, but this time with a twist – it will be featuring the Munich carmaker’s latest water injection technology.

BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car (3)

QUICK FACTS

Name BMW M4 Coupé
Segment 2-Door Coupé
Engine 2,979cc, inline-6 cyl, M TwinPower Turbo
Max Power 431hp @ 5,500-7,300 rpm
Max Torque 550Nm @ 1,850–5,500 rpm
Price RM 748,800

 

The words “water injection” must not be confused with direct injection, because the former is simply used to improve cooling efficiency, especially in the high-performing vehicle lineup. What’s new under the bonnet are supplementary radiators for the gearbox, turbocharger and circuitry.

More specifically, the production version of the M4’s turbocharger gets the conventional intercooling setup, whereas this MotoGP Safety Car gets an additional electric water pump to further improve the cooling process. The engine also reaps the benefits of this technology by substituting the supercharged air cooling system with water injection technology.

So, how does water injection work? The keyword here is ‘vaporisation’. Water is injected (fine spray) into the intake module’s collector, cooling the exhaust air during the vaporisation process. It effectively lowers the discharge temperature in the combustion chamber, reducing knocking tendencies. The resulting effect is that the engine can now run on a higher boosting pressure and earlier ignition point.

BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car Breakdown

If water injection does prove its worth and is yet another efficient system in the uptrend realm of forced induction, then your regular BMW 3 Series may just come with this feature some good few years down the road. Sounds promising, right?

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IMAGE GALLERY

BMW M4 Coupé MotoGP Safety Car & Bike

 

BMW M Division’s Water Injection Technology