
1. It’s BMW M division’s 50th birthday present to itself
BMW’s legendary motorsport division, M, is 50 years old this year. Given its first project was the iconic 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’, a race-fettled version of the gorgeous E9 coupe that steamrollered rivals in Touring Car racing, there’s a pleasing symmetry to M’s revival of the CSL badge in 2022.
The new M4 CSL is based on the M4 Competition but, just as the Batmobile took the standard 3.0 CSL coupe and turned everything up to 11, so the M4 CSL is a wild, track-focused reworking of the base car. It’s BMW’s GT3, if you like.

And the CSL does enjoy a useful performance edge over any pesky standard M4 Competition you may meet at the traffic lights. The M4’s twin-turbo straight-six has been tickled from 503bhp to 543bhp for the CSL, dropping the 0-62mph time from 3.9sec to 3.7sec.

In total the CSL’s bespoke carbon parts cut 24kg from the kerb weight. The M4 Competition already uses a composite roof, to help lower the centre of gravity as well as reduce weight generally. But the CSL goes further with a carbon bonnet, bootlid and front splitter. You also get deadly serious carbon-backed race seats (with optional harnesses instead of belts) and a carbon centre console.

To help it nail its brief, the CSL borrows much from race car engineering, specifically its M4 GT3 sister car. It ditches the M4 Competition’s rear seats and belts to save weight and gets lightweight, fade-free carbon-ceramic brakes as standard, not to mention lightweight CSL-exclusive forged wheels. The chassis has also been overhauled with an 8mm suspension drop, helper springs for increased grip, stiffer anti-roll bars and slack-free, track-ready suspension to increase the sense of connection between car and driver.

Wearing the CSL badge brings huge pressure. The new M4 CSL looks ready to follow in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessors, but the proof will be in the driving. A true CSL? We’ll let you know just as soon as we get behind the wheel.

Written by
Charles & DeanAt Charles & Dean, we offer finance solutions with a difference. Our focus is on you, providing a variety of competitive independent finance options that support both businesses and individuals in their own unique journey.
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