2023 BMW M4 CSL [US]

A legend is reborn. As its 50th birthday celebrations gather steam, BMW M GmbH is unveiling a very special limited edition model. The new BMW M4 CSL fuses old-school racing passion with innovative technology to create an inimitable performance experience. Its standalone character profile is rooted in two core features: a power hike of 40 hp over the current BMW M4 Competition to 543 hp and a 240-pound reduction in weight.

Intelligent lightweight design, purity of purpose

The new BMW M4 CSL represents a highly concentrated showcase for the racing craft of BMW M GmbH and its expertise in powertrain and chassis development and lightweight design. For example, the company can call on many years of experience in working with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for body, chassis, and interior components. The M engineers have managed to restrict the CSL's curb weight to 3,640 lbs. An outstanding power-to-weight ratio of 6.7 lbs/hp provides the ideal platform for a dynamically masterful driving experience. The new BMW M4 CSL can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, while the top speed is an electronically limited 191 mph.

Modified six-cylinder inline engine, eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and rear-wheel drive for the ultimate performance experience

Motorsport DNA, high-revving characteristics, and latest-generation M Twin Power Turbo technology make the inline 6-cylinder power unit from the BMW M4 Competition the perfect starting point for the high-performance engine in the most powerful road-legal M4 variant ever made. Detail modifications for the new BMW M4 CSL produce a maximum output of 543 hp at 6,250 rpm - an increase of 40 hp over the BMW M4 Competition. Peak torque of 479 lb-ft is on tap from just 2,750 rpm and sustained all the way up to 5,950 rpm. As a result, the unmistakable performance attributes of BMW M models - near instantaneous response to every movement of the accelerator, a voracious appetite for revs, and relentless power delivery well into the upper regions of the rev range - are present in even more heightened form. New and updated engine mounts and rigorous application of lightweight design principles ensure the new BMW M4 CSL achieves an even bigger gain in dynamic capability than this extra dose of power would suggest.

The ideal combination of dynamics and lightweight design: strut braces in the engine compartment, titanium rear silencer

In the engine compartment, the front-end strut brace developed specifically for the M4 CSL takes the body rigidity to another level. This cast aluminum element connects the spring strut towers to each other and to the front end. The geometry of the strut brace has been adapted precisely to the forces exerted in different driving situations, thus optimizing agility and steering precision while minimizing material and, therefore, weight.

The exhaust system of the new BMW M4 CSL has a rear silencer made from titanium and is nearly 10 lbs lighter than a conventional steel equivalent. The signature M quad tailpipes are finished in matt black trim with a stripe-patterned perforation on their inner surface. The CSLspecific exhaust system comes with electronically controlled flaps, and, in the hallmark style of the high performance models from BMW M GmbH, its visceral soundtrack creates an intense motorsport aura both outside and inside the vehicle.