One of the stars of this year's 50th anniversary celebrations for the M division of BMW is the new M4 CSL, a lighter, more powerful, hardcore, limited edition of the 4 Series-based coupe. After months of speculation, spy shots and leaks we can now show you the finished item, and it certainly lives up to the hype. We suspect that BMW had no problems finding buyers for all 1,000 examples.
Significant weight reduction
BMW M has made significant changes to the core M4 Competition to create the CSL, starting with a focus on weight reduction. The biggest savings have been made inside the car, where there's a set of very special and light M Carbon bucket seats (with removable headrests for those wearing a helmet), a unique centre console, lightweight sound insulation and the small matter of no rear seats.
Externally, there's more CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic) for the body than on the M4 Competition. That car's carbon roof is joined by a dramatically finished carbon bonnet and boot lid, the latter incorporating a pronounced spoiler. M Carbon ceramic brakes (with red-painted callipers, not the usual gold), bespoke lightweight alloy wheels, a titanium exhaust silencer, pared-back kidney grille, new rear lights and new suspension components all contribute to an overall weight reduction of 100kg.
More power, of course
Thanks to the drop in mass, the M4 would have felt friskier than standard even if BMW M hadn't revisited the engine, but of course it did. Under the bonnet is still the twin-turbocharged straight-six 3.0-litre unit, but BMW has upped the maximum boost pressure and reprogrammed the engine control unit. The figures show that maximum power is up 40hp to 550hp (at 6,250rpm as before) and though torque still peaks at 650Nm, it's now available over a wider rev band - from 2,750- to 5,950rpm.
A stiffer engine mounting is used on the CSL, and the transmission mounting has also been tweaked. The only gearbox available is the eight-speed M Steptronic auto and all power is sent to the rear wheels.
BMW quotes a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the rear-drive M4 Competition manages - though 0.2 seconds slower than the M xDrive model can manage.
Even more focus on track use
As elsewhere in the M3/M4 line-up, the CSL comes as standard with adaptive damping, variable-ratio steering and an electronically controlled rear differential. However, the ride height has been reduced by a further 8mm and there are auxiliary springs fitted front and rear. Other geometry changes lead to more camber on the front axle, while the rear axle features a more rigid connection to the body, including new ball-jointed replacements for rubber mounts, all in the name of greater precision when driven to extremes on the track.
That's where owners will have the opportunity to make the most of the integrated brake system's ten-step traction control. BMW tells us that the M Traction Control stages 1-5 are as found in the M4 Competition, but 6-10 have been designed to extract optimum lap times - as recorded by the built-in M Laptimer function, part of the M Drive Professional system.
Of course, the traction control can be switched off if you want to test out the M Drift Analyser and shred the special tyres that come as standard...
You'll see it coming
Even if you are driving the M4 CSL in a restrained manner, it'll be difficult to hide it. Sure, the standard colour is grey (Frozen Brooklyn Grey metallic to be precise - though white or black are also available), but it gets a uniquely styled kidney grille, CFRP splitters and black-and-red badging for a start. Not to mention the yellow lights - as per the BMW M5 CS - and the unique black, forged alloy wheels. The bonnet's carbon structure is on show, there are further red accents on the roof and side sills and topping it all off is the new boot spoiler and intricate rear lights, which use thin laser-illuminated threads to give the lamps a unique appearance.
Any coming to Ireland?
Just 1,000 examples of the BMW M4 CSL will be manufactured for worldwide consumption and the signs are that they're all sold out already. We don't know as yet if any are bound for the Irish market, though BMW UK has confirmed that its allocation (from which the Irish market would get its) is 100 cars. BMW Ireland has told us that the M4 CSL will cost €229,870.
That's not the end of the 50th anniversary celebrations for BMW M. It has already confirmed that it will be unveiling the BMW XM and new M2 this year, along with the M3 Touring. It's also rumoured to be working on an M3 CS saloon.