BMW Brings Back CSL in a 191-MPH M4
The BMW M4 CSL brings back the performance past of BMW coupes.
The letters stand for: Coupe, Sport, Lightweight.
The new model offers 543 hp and weighs just 3640 pounds. Price is an entirely reasonable $140,895. Production begins in July.
“The letters CSL stand for coupe, sport, and lightweight,” said BMW M’s CEO Frank Van Meel. That may be all you need to know about the coming M4 CSL.
Not only is it a two-door coupe, it’s also a two-seat coupe—they took out the back seats entirely to save 46 pounds. The two seats that remain are M Carbon full buckets, which themselves are 53 pounds less than the stock M seats. Ultra-lightweight sound insulation shaved another 33 pounds off the car, while the use of CFRP on the hood and deck lid among other places took care of 24 pounds. A titanium silencer knocked nine pounds off while modifications to the kidney grille, rear lights, floor mats, and even the climate control counted for eight pounds down.
“We’ve dropped 100 kilograms (240 pounds) off the car,” Van Meel said just days before the CSL was to be revealed at Villa d’Est in Italy. “That includes carbon-fiber interior trim pieces, new lightweight wheels, Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 R tires, and M Carbon ceramic brakes.”
Given all that, it’s surprising the M4 CSL still weighs in at 3640 pounds. Compare that to the original 1972 E9 CSL’s curb weight of somewhere between 2568 and 2800 pounds depending on where you bought it, and the new model seems hefty. But that 1972 model offered only 197 hp, and it’s the power-to-weight ratio that matters most.
Thanks to increased boost pressure of the twin turbos feeding the 3.0-liter straight-six, lightweight forged crank, and even 3D-printed routing of the coolant, among other optimizations, the new M4 CSL gets a 40-hp boost over the stock M4 to a 543-hp peak. Line that up with its 240-pound weight savings and the new car has a power-to-weight ratio of 6.7 lbs/hp—a formidable performer. Indeed, 0-to-60 mph comes up in just 3.6 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 191 mph.
“Never before has the overall vehicle concept of a production model been so close to that of the related BMW M GmbH racer,” BMW said in announcing specifics of the car. “The genes the new BMW M4 CSL shares with its competition-spec sibling, the BMW M4 GT3, are also reflected in its performance attributes. In test runs on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, which represents the ultimate yardstick for brand-typical dynamics like agility and handling precision for all BMW M cars, the M4 CSL posted a lap time of 7:20.2, the fastest time ever for a series-production BMW.”
While over 50% of American M buyers chose manual transmissions, the M4 CSL will come with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic with ratios matched to the engine’s new peak power and torque outputs.
Likewise, the chassis has been optimized to handle the power and extract the most performance. The M-specific double-joint spring strut front axle and five-link rear were “developed specifically for the high-performance sports cars in this model range,” BMW said. The Adaptive M Suspension offers electronically controlled dampers, electromechanical M Servotronic steering with variable ratio, and an M-specific version of the integrated braking system. Ride height is dropped 0.3 inch compared to the M4 Competition, while auxiliary springs and unique anti-roll bars further enhance handling. The M Traction control has a distinctly track-biased tune.
So its performance chops are in place. But engineers had to keep in mind the car will also be driven on the street. “It’s not just about driving dynamics, or the limit range—it’s about things such as ride comfort,” said Functional Integration Driving Dynamics manager for the M4 CSL, Jörg Weidinger.
Specifics of the interior comfort were scant, but in peak Bavarian flourish, BMW promises the newest CSL “delivers a driving experience as bewitching as it is exclusive.” Like all good things in life, bewitching will cost you. Base MSRP is $140,895, or about double the base price of an M4 Coupe. Is it worth it? We’ll let you know when we drive one. Production begins in July.
Let us know what you think about the BMW M4 CSL in the comments section below.
