Limited edition BMW M4 CS
SPORTY ACCENT: FILLING GAP BETWEEN M4 COUPE AND TRACK-FOCUSED BMW M4 GTS Built at original BMW plant in Munich, it’ll be available in SA from third quarter.
BMW M GmbH is presenting another exclusive limited-run special-edition model in the new BMW M4 CS. The M4 CS fills the gap in the lineup between the M4 Coupe with Competition Package and the uncompromisingly track-focused BMW M4 GTS.
With its accentuated sporting presence, the new M4 CS continues the decades-long tradition of successful M special editions which began in 1988 with the E30 BMW M3 Evolution. The new BMW M4 CS will be built at the original BMW plant in Munich and will be available in South Africa from the third quarter of 2017.
The M4 CS also sees BMW M GmbH introducing a new nomenclature for its models. Positioned above the standard M models will be the performance-boosted Competition versions. Then come the CS special-edition models, a notch higher still. Positioned on top are the performance-maximising “brand shapers” which display a clear motor sport or club sport character but are also fully road legal.
The 3.0-litre high-performance engine raises the output of the M4 with Competition Package by 7kW, to 343kW. State-of-the-art M TwinPower Turbo technology allows the M4 CS to dip below the four-second mark for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint, stopping the clock at 3.9 seconds it is claimed. The top speed of the M4 CS, which comes as standard with the M Driver’s Package, is electronically limited to 280km/h.
With its two mono-scroll turbochargers, charge air cooler, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and Double-VANOS fully variable camshaft timing, the six-cylinder in-line engine takes a clear and consistent aim at the higher echelons of performance, but is equally committed to developing significant torque from low engine speeds and achieving high levels of efficiency with a claimed fuel consumption that is said to be just 8.4 litres per 100km in the combined cycle.
The new BMW M4 CS is equipped as standard with the seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) with Drivelogic. This cutting-edge transmission has a separate oil cooler and enables both automated gear changes and manual interventions using the shift paddles on the steering wheel. It changes gears in fractions of a second with no interruption in the flow of power, but employs a long seventh gear to keep revs low and minimise fuel consumption over longer motorway journeys.
The suspension of the new BMW M4 CS largely mirrors that of the M4 with Competition Package. The links and wheel carriers at both the front and rear axles are made from forged aluminium and are extremely light. That keeps the unsprung masses low and benefits driving dynamics.
The M4 CS is fitted as standard with Adaptive M suspension whose geometry has been tuned to deliver optimised performance on both the road and track. The new BMW M4 CS has also been honed on the most demanding test track of them all for high-performance sports cars: the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. Its ‘Ring lap time of 7 min 38 sec puts the CS in super-sports car territory. Ensuring the best possible grip in all driving conditions are the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system, which includes M Dynamic Mode, and the Active M Differential. The control systems for the Adaptive M suspension, DSC and Active M Differential have been modified to suit the dynamic requirements of the BMW M4 CS, as has the set-up of the electromechanical steering.
The driver has the option of adjusting the steering and suspension settings to their preferences or the demands of the route. To this end, they can select one of three driving modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport+) at the touch of a button. While Comfort mode is particularly suited to poor road conditions, city driving and short journeys, Sport will be the mode of choice for pushing on over twisty country roads.
And for those heading to the track, Sport+ mode will pave the way for the fastest lap times. Should the driver get too excited, DSC will intervene in an instant. M Dynamic Mode will also allow controlled drifts.
Also very much at home on the race track are the light-alloy wheels (front: 9 J x 19, rear: 10 J x 20) designed exclusively for the M4 CS and fitted as standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (front: 265/35 R 19, rear: 285/30 R 20). These semi-slick cup tyres, which are also road-legal, provide unbeatable grip and supreme lateral stability at high track speeds, as well as optimum traction out of hairpins.
The M4 CS can also be ordered with Michelin Sport road tyres at no extra cost.