This is the new 2022 BMW M4 CSL, a hardcore track-day focused variant of the already potent BMW M4 coupe. The M4 CSL is lighter, lower, and more powerful than the standard M4. The CSL is instantly recognizable by its race-car style body kit, featuring a front splitter, air vents in the bonnet, air vents in the bumper, and side skirts. It was further dressed up by red detailing all around and by yellow LED strips in the headlights.
The BMW M4 CSL is powered by a high-performance twin-turbocharged six-cylinder in line engine, without any form of electrical assistance. Output of the engine is 550 hp at 6,250 rpm and 650 Nm at just 2,750 rpm. These impressive numbers make the new CSL the most powerful road-legal M4 variant until now. The engine is an evolution of the unit used in the standard M4, but it is more powerful and fitted with a track-focused engine management system, aimed at delivering extra power at low revs, for example when the car exits a slow corner. BMW says the M4 CSL is easy on the fuel for a performance car, but a fuel consumption of 10.1-9.9 liter per 100 kilometers WLTP is still rather steep. The engine is mated to an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, sending all power the the rear wheels. The gearbox is operated either with shift paddles on the steering wheel or can be set in a fully automatic mode.
To add even more performance, BMW reduced the weight of the M4 CSL with a whopping 100 kilo compared to the M4. The main savings come from: deleting the rear bench, fitting bucket seats, fitting extra light alloy wheels and brakes, and making the bonnet, roof, and boot lid from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). More power and less weight make for lots of speed. BMW claims a 0-100 in 3.7 seconds, 0-200 in 10.7 seconds, and an unlimited top speed of 307 kilometers per hour.
To get up to speed is easy with so much power on tap, but what about stopping? The new BMW M4 CSL is fitted with vented and drilled carbon ceramic brakes. At the front, the size of the brake rotor is 400 millimeter in diameter and 38 millimeter in width, the largest brake rotor ever fitted on a BMW M4. At the rear, the brake rotor is barely smaller, with a 380 millimeter diameter and a width of 28 millimeter. BMW claims that the carbon ceramic brakes save 14.3 kilos over the brakes on the standard M4. The brake rotors are coupled with six-piston fixed calipers and the front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear. The calipers are M-branded and painted in a racy red shade.
BMW went retro at the rear, fitting a fixed duck-tail spoiler and four fat exhaust pipes inside a diffuser. The M4 CSL badge is finished in red. The BMW M4 CSL is a limited production car with a planned output of just 1000 units, selling for some $140.000, depending on market. As we have said many times with other great cars on these pages before, this generation of BMW M3 CSL is very likely the last to use a gasoline engine only. The next generation will probably feature a mild-hybrid or even a plug-in hybrid system. That’ll add some weight but fuel consumption will go down, and, more importantly, power will go up.