BMW did not keep the M4 CS a secret. We saw it tested at the Nürburgring and found BMW’s applications to trademark the name “M4 CS.” So we knew it was coming. When we first reported this model, we did not know whether it would come to the U.S. Now we know. It will.
The M4 CS will be another exclusive limited-run special edition. This one will be positioned between the M4 Coupe with the Competition Package and the track-ready M4 GTS.
At the heart of all M cars is the engine and the engine of the M4 CS would be nice to have. It is still a three-liter inline six with M TwinPower Turbo technology but at 460 horsepower it puts out ten more horses than the Competition Package. This gets the M4 CS from zero to 62 miles per hour in under four seconds—3.9 to be exact. The car comes standard with the M Driver’s Package so the top speed is 174 miles per hour instead of the stock M4’s electronically limited 155.
The M4 CS’s engine incorporates twin mono-scroll turbochargers, a charge air cooler, High Precision Injection, Valvetronic variable valve timing, and Double-VANOS fully variable camshaft timing. For an M car, fuel mileage is pretty good, at an estimated 28 miles per gallon.
The M4 CS will come standard with the M tuned seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (DCT) with DriveLogic. It has a separate oil cooler and can effect shift changes automatically or manually via the paddle shifters. Seventh gear acts as an overdrive for better fuel consumption on trips.
The suspension is pretty much the same as the M4 with Competition Package. The links and wheel carriers at both ends are lightweight forged aluminum. The M4 CS comes with Adaptive M Suspension. Does it work? It lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 38 seconds. Enough said.
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) includes M Dynamic Mode (MDM) and the car comes with the Active M Differential. The control systems for the Adaptive M suspension, DSC, and Active M Differential allow the driver to select Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes with the touch of a button. M Dynamic Mode will allow controlled drifts.
The light-alloy wheels (front: 9 J x 19, rear: 10 J x 20) are exclusive to the M4 CS and come shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (front: 265/35R-19, rear: 285/30R-20). Buyers may also select Michelin Sport road tires as a no-cost option.
Inside, the BMW M4 CS has lightweight M sports seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara. The door panel trim is made from compacted natural fibers and features pull loops. The hood, with vents aft of the powerdome, and the roof are made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
This is not an austere track-only car, as the leather and Alcantera interior proves. Standard features include automatic climate control, a version of the BMW HiFi system Professional, and BMW’s Navigation system Professional.
Three large air intakes in front signal that the car means business. LED headlights are standard. The rear lights use organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology and are exclusive to the M4 CS and the M4 GTS. The CS also has the rear diffuser from the GTS. The trunk lid gets a carbon-fiber Gurney spoiler.
To stop all this power and good looks, the M4 CS has fade-resistant M compound brakes with four-piston calipers up front and twin-pots in the back.
The BMW M4 CS will be built in Munich.
This could be the M4 for which many have been waiting. It does not have the extreme, track-only interior of the M4 GTS and would be very streetable. Yet it would be ready to lay down excellent lap times if called upon to do so, at a price well under the M4 GTS.
BMW’s press release says the M4 CS will start at €116,900, which is around $125,300. The fact that the original press release quoted Euros instead of dollars led us to think it might not be coming to the U.S., but BMW put out a U.S. press release today and the M4 CS should be in U.S. dealerships in 2018. BMW will make only 3,000 for worldwide distribution over a two-year period. We don't know how many of the special-edition M4 CS's we will receive and what they will cost, but BMW will tell us closer to the market launch. It's nice to know that we matter to BMW and we look forward to seeing the new M4 CS next year.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
