Searching for gold: IND creates the first evolution of a Pyrite M4
IND’s Green Hell was a project that inspired us to create a car that challenged the traditional notions of a street car. Could we create something that was visually race-inspired but maintained full street creature comforts? Is it possible to generate over 550 horsepower at the rear wheels, and still have a docile behavior around a road course? Green Hell, in this way, was all about the details in spite of its extroverted appearance. The car’s damper settings, our specifically chosen spring rates, the sway bar settings, its alignment- all of these would define the character of this car.
When the owner of Green Hell approached me to help spec his M4, I wanted to re-interpret our approach to his famous E92 M3. Simply ordering another Signal Green car was not an option- we’ve already conquered that particular color. This time, we would try to create a car that was the definition of dual purpose, but with a more elegant presentation. We knew that Pyrite Brown was the best possible choice. Not only does this color’s striking brown and gold hue make a completely unique statement, but it is completely inverse of Green Hell’s vibrant personality- an important factor for us, given that so many vendors would surely jump on the Pyrite color as well, once we had released this car.
This Pyrite M car arrived at IND mid-winter, after waiting for BMW’s individual program to apply the special paint color and assemble the car. Unwrapping this special car was incredibly rewarding, revealing the incredible paint with every inch of protective film removed. We knew then that this car would be something truly unique.
Just like Green Hell, this M4 will evolve in stages as our client acclimates to the car both on the street and in a road course environment. The impetus for its first stage of development was a single phone call. When BBS of America reaches out to you to create something exciting to introduce their brand new FI-R wheel at the BimmerFest show, you do everything in your power to comply. We knew that we had to modify this M4 in such a way that it would perform incredibly well, provide its owner with a very dynamic driving experience, and yet stay within the confines of the elegant feel that the Pyrite color provides.
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We looked to 3D Design to provide us with an exterior package that would complement the M4’s original bodylines, while adding some additional presence to the bottom of the car. The full pre-preg carbon front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser, and trunk spoiler all contribute to the car’s visual impact, while taking an inverse approach to what IND fans saw in Green Hell. Gloss black front and side grilles were added to complement the carbon fiber below them, and of course IND painted reflectors remove the unsightly orange brought to us by the US DOT.
KW’s Variant 3 suspension was added to provide an aggressive stance while simultaneously maintaining an excellent ride quality and the M4’s dynamic handling. An Eisenmann rear section with the always recognizable signature tips granted us a dynamic roar while driving through this car’s 6 manually shifted gears.
Finally, all of these components come together to highlight one of the most impressive pieces of automotive aftermarket engineering in recent history: the BBS FI-R wheel. As we’ve mentioned in other threads, the FI-R is absolutely unique in its construction, being the first production wheel in the world to take advantage of extensive engineering analysis to remove weight in an area previously untouched by performance wheel manufacturers. IND was privileged and honored to receive the first M4 fitment FI-R wheel set in the world, just days before the BimmerFest show. 275 width front and 295 width rear Falken tires maximized the available space under the M4’s massive fenders and quarter panels, and will grant this car impeccable balance in performance driving.
We will continue to update BimmerPost as this M4 continues to develop and evolve. We hope that we can create something special with this car- an M4 that provides racing car performance around the track, but docile behavior and high class styling on the street. Thank you all for your support, and enjoy the photos!
