For a number of years now, BMW has been employing the services of its Z4 in GT racing. The Z4 GT3 in particular has performed quite well, helping to retain a link to the automaker's claims that it builds the ultimate driving machines. Now though, it seems that the Z4 will have to step aside. That's because BMW will begin campaigning a new M6 GT3 race car, which should be quite an on-track looker based on these early renderings.

Testing with the new car will begin early in 2015. Customers looking to jump to the newest metal will be allowed to purchase the car later that year, and the order forms will be open throughout the year. This means the car should be ready to rock for the 2016 motorsport season.

Under the hood, BMW will utilize its 4.4-liter V-8 engine that's aided by a pair of twin-scroll turbochargers. The chassis, gearbox, and all of the racing electronics will be sorted out, and should of course prove a perfect match to that forced induction engine. BMW has a long history of building truly wonderful race cars so it should be of no surprise that the M6 GT3 will become a bit of that history.

There's no word yet on how much it will cost to own this Bavarian beast. Expect to pay at least half a million bucks though, as the Z4 GT3 runs right around $440,000.

BMW’s Z4 GT3 race car remains as competitive as ever, having managed to finish second overall in this past weekend’s Nürburgring 24 Hours. However, it’s on its way out, set to be replaced next season by an all-new race car based on the M6 coupe. BMW first announced the M6 GT3 racer late last year and now the automaker has provided a few more details.

Power will come from the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 fitted to the M6 road car and several other M-badged machines, with BMW confirming that the engine has only been slightly modified for its outings on the race track. The dry-sumped unit will be paired with a six-speed sequential transmission mounted at the rear axle for better weight balance, and will produce at least 500 horsepower along with “high” torque to help it exit corners quickly.

The aerodynamic body, which is being optimized in the wind tunnel, will be made from composite materials to help get weight down—BMW expects the final car to tip the scales at less than 2,866 pounds. And compared to the Z4 GT3, the longer wheelbase of the M6 GT3 should ensure better handling. BMW says there will also be improvements in reliability, efficiency and ease of maintenance, something crucial for endurance racing like the N24.

Safety remains paramount, however, and accordingly BMW has developed an FIA-approved safety cell in accordance with the very latest safety standards. The M6 GT3 will also boast numerous other features, the sole purpose of which is to protect the driver. These include the roof hatch specified in the regulations, through which the driver’s helmet can be removed if necessary, as well as the safety seat, which will bolt firmly to the chassis.

“The BMW M6 Coupe obviously provided us with a sensational base on which to develop the new car,” BMW Motorsport boss Jens Marquardt said in a statement. “That makes it twice as much fun for our engineers, working hand in hand with their colleagues at BMW M, to transform it into a car for the race track.”

Off and on since 1975, BMW has seen one of its race cars turned into an art car. It all started when French racing driver Hervé Poulain turned to his artist friend Alexander Calder for a new design on a car. The resulting BMW 3.0 CSL became an instant hit when it zipped around the Circuit De La Sarthe for the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year. Now there's going to be another art car, two in fact, and the designs will be handled by John Baldessari and Cao Fei.

Baldessari is the older artist to undertake an art car, while Fei is the youngest, with the pair having birth years of 1931 and 1978 respectively. Their selection to craft art cars for BMW make them the 18th and 19th people to do so. The most recent BMW art car came together at the hands of Jeff Koons when he created his vision of an art car in 2010.

Fei and Baldessari will be working with the 2016 BMW M6 GT3 race car. It's the latest racing weapon from BMW Motorsports, and it should take to a lively livery quite well. The new cars will be worked on over the course of the coming year, and then they will be presented to museums in 2017.