BMW debuts ‘family friendly’ M3 CS
BMW’s staggering M3 sports sedan now has a new flagshipwithin-a-flagship – the M3 CS.
As with previous CS products (CS once stood for Coupe´ Sport, but these days stands for Competition Sport) put out by the famous M firm, the new M3 CS conjures a familiar formula of power, weight, and rigidity improvements atop an already massively capable car.
The M3 CS utilises the same tweaked S58 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six found in the M4 CSL, meaning it spits out 405kW of power and 650Nm of torque – the 30kW jump in power made possible by an increase in turbo boost.
The M3 CS features two key differences compared to the M4 CSL. Of course, the first is that it features four doors instead of two (the back seat is retained, meaning track-day thrills for the whole family). The second, less visible difference relates to its drivetrain.
Although the majority of BMW’s M3 and M4 family are allwheel drive, the M4 CSL is exclusively rear-wheel drive.
The M3 CS bucks this trend, settling instead for all-wheel drive with configurable rearwheel drive.
Along with making the model a little more practical in adverse weather conditions than its M4 cousin, this change also means it’s quicker off the mark; accelerating to 60mph (97kph) in 3.2 seconds – 0.4 quicker than the CSL and 0.2 quicker than an M3 Competition xDrive.
If you keep your foot pinned you’ll eventually get to an electronically limited 303kph, 4kph down on what the M4 CSL can do. Sadly for those clinging to hope of a manual, the M3 CS will be exclusively sold as an automatic.
So, why is this M3 badged as a CS and not a CSL as per its M4 cousin? That may have something to do with the fact that, with a curb weight of 1776kg, it’s 125kg heavier than the M4 CSL. The L in CSL, of course, stands for ‘Lightweight’.
That added weight is a result of the decision to hang onto the rear seats and all-wheel drive. Perhaps from BMW’s perspective it’s a deliberate ploy to ensure that the M3 CS and M4 CSL aren’t too similar.
It still manages to be 34kg lighter than the M3 Comp, thanks to a carbon-fibre bonnet, lightweight carbon seats, carbon components under the bonnet, and a titanium exhaust that’s 3.6kg lighter than the original steel one.
The drop in kilos complements BMW’s other chassis tweaks, which include a cast aluminium strut base, adaptive dampers, new anti-roll bars and camber angles, and the staggered 19- and 20-inch wheel and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 package from the CSL.
The CS also gets the CSL’s GT3-inspired open grille, which no doubt is still the topic of much debate amongst BMW faithful.
Apart from the wheels and grille, it also gets a more aggressive front splitter underscored by the winglets that have been added to its flanks.
BMW has yet to confirm just how many M3 CSs it will produce (the M4 CSL was limited to 1000 units). And, the German brand’s local arm has yet to confirm whether it will be coming Down Under.
Given that the likely more limited and niche M4 CSL is a starter for New Zealand, one would think the M3 CS would follow suit. Stuff has contacted the brand for comment, and awaits their response.