It’s a big year for BMW M, as the Bavarian marque’s motorsport division turns 50 in 2022. As you’d expect, there are no plans to hit the half-century quietly, with the first of what is rumoured to be a selection of special celebratory models being the new 2022 550PS (404kW) BMW M4 CSL. Yes, this is the return of the CSL for the first time since the iconic E46 M3 CSL of 2003.
So, there’s a lot to live up to and, happily, this doesn’t appear to be a badge job. As above, the new CSL gets a bump in power of 40PS (29kW) up to 550PS at 6,250rpm from its 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six engine, with a peak torque figure of 650Nm (477lb ft) from 2,750rpm to 5,950rpm. Raw performance numbers are 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and a 190mph top speed. The only curiosity is that it’s only available with the eight-speed auto ‘box – sharpened for the CSL – though perhaps that’s in keeping with the last CSL’s commitment to a paddle-only SMG transmission too. Importantly, this most hardcore of M4s will also be rear-wheel-drive only.
CSL stands for Coupe Sport Light, not Coupe Sport Power, so the most important thing for the CSL is to shave some weight from the porky M4. The headline figure is a drop of 100kg, down to a still sturdy 1,625kg. For context, the 2003 CSL dropped 110kg compared to the standard E46 M3, from just under 1,500kg down to 1,385kg.
The new CSL gets that 100kg drop thanks to a number of quite serious measures, including the binning of the rear seats for a 20kg saving, special harness-ready carbon buckets up front that drop 12kg each and lashings of carbon throughout the cabin. Around 21kg was taken out with carbon brakes, lightweight suspension and wheels too. On the outside, the roof, new bonnet and boot lid are also carbon – the latter a new ducktail item, an important piece of CSL iconography – saving 11kg in total. The CSL-specific titanium exhaust silencer drops 4.3kg too.
Speaking of style, you’ll definitely know a CSL when you see it. It’s lower (8mm) and markedly more aggressive. Along with that new carbon boot lid, the CSL gets a revised nose with a new aggressive splitter, yellow M5 CS-style M4 GT3-aping day-running lights and unpainted carbon ‘nostrils’ on the bonnet.
There’s red pinstriping everywhere, and at the back, new lightweight rear lights, which along with adjustments to the kidney grille, floor mats and climate control, contribute to a further 4kg weight saving. They also happen to look very sharp and will be unmistakable at night. They’re something of a callback to when the last M4 GTS came with special OLED rear lights too. That paint? Frozen Brooklyn Grey, with black and white optional as well. All told, the CSL is a great-looking car, not going quite as far as the Mercedes ‘Black Series’ treatment, and rightly so we think.
All these performance touches add up to a claimed Nürburgring time of 7:15.677, the fastest ever for a BMW road car. As you’d expect, CSLs will be neither cheap nor numerous, with prices starting from £128,820. It’s available to order now, though we’d expect the 1,000-car production run to sell out quick, especially the 100 cars allocated to the UK. Are you taken by the new CSL? Are you glad to see the badge return? Let us know your thoughts…
Keyword: BMW launches new 550PS M4 CSL