Competition, Sport, Lightweight 2022 BMW M4 CSL

Competition, Sport, Lightweight: these are the key words that characterize the latest “CSL” version of the BMW M4.

The famous initials were born over half a century ago, when BMW won the European Touring Car Championship in 1973 with the 3.0 CSL. Thirty years later, in 2003, the historic acronym was associated with the highly acclaimed E46 series M3, a limited edition now highly sought after by collectors worldwide.

Unveiled in a world premiere at the 2022 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance, the M4 CSL is produced in only 1,000 units and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the brand’s sports division.

Its sporty character and aggressive lines come from the union of innovative technologies and racing experience, with the primary goal of weight reduction to create a “track-ready” version. The genes that the M4 CSL shares with its racing sister, the M4 GT3, are also reflected in its stunning performance. Developed on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, it completed a lap in just 7 minutes and 15 seconds, making it the fastest road-legal BMW of all time.

Extensive use of carbon to save weight brings the scale to 1,625 kg, over 100 kg less than the M4 Competition. The beautiful integral shell seats (with a self-supporting structure in CFRP), for example, save 24 kilograms. The rear bench disappears, replaced by two helmet storage compartments. Numerous sporty details include the Alcantara M steering wheel, illuminated CSL badges on the seats, and door sills.

The front with a double kidney grille combined with yellow BMW Laserlight headlights evokes racing, with numerous carbon aerodynamic appendages giving it a truly aggressive look. The weight-saving diet also includes the braking system, with ceramic discs and beautiful forged lightweight alloy wheels, along with the roof and trunk lid in CFRP. Finally, the rear features a carbon diffuser and titanium exhausts.

Frozen Brooklyn Grey Metallic is the color of our car, the launch shade, perfectly matching the exposed carbon fiber surfaces and red details.

The references to the GT3 version are not just aesthetic and the greatest similarities are found under the hood. The 3.0-liter inline-six S58 engine has been tuned by increasing the maximum boost pressure of the two mono-scroll turbochargers from 1.7 to 2.1 bar, now reaching 550 hp and 650 Nm of torque.

Another technical improvement concerns the engine block structure without cylinder liners, making it extremely rigid, while the lightweight crankshaft allows it to handle particularly high torque levels. The chassis has been reinforced with targeted upgrades to adapt it to the increased performance of the engine. The drive is, of course, rear-wheel, with 650 Nm of torque delivered to the rear axle through the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.

It’s a cold day in late May and we are in the Eastern Italian Alps. The asphalt is wet and the traction control intervenes continuously, preventing the tires from slipping more than necessary. Thanks to the M Traction Control function, the intervention threshold can be adjusted, allowing for fun in complete safety. However, this does not mean that maximum attention should not be paid; the power is significant and the CSL requires extreme delicacy and precision.

The first thing you notice and appreciate once in the cabin is the magnificent melody of the six-cylinder engine since the removal of soundproofing material was one of the many weight-reduction interventions, allowing more of the engine sound to enter. It’s immediately clear that this version is aimed at track driving enthusiasts: it’s rigid, noisy, and as sharp as a scalpel.

We are lucky to be on a beautiful road that has just been paved for the Giro d’Italia, with a perfect surface. The lowered setup compared to the M4 Competition and the adaptive dampers make it very stable, while the precise and communicative steering helps especially when feeling the rear lighten, bringing the car back on track with minimal effort. The engine’s thrust is powerful and you really feel the need to unleash it on a circuit to fully exploit its potential. 0-100 km/h is covered in just 3.7 seconds and it takes just over 10 seconds to break the 200 km/h barrier.

In short, a true M car, unfiltered and aimed at enthusiasts of the purest and most extreme sporty driving, remaining faithful to the brand’s philosophy and every single word of the acronym that identifies it.

Many thanks to Nanni Nember BMW