BMW M3 CS: Limited Production, Starting Price of $119,695

BMW has unveiled the M3 CS – a limited-edition offering of their track-ready sports sedan. This model will be built in limited numbers with a starting price of $119,695 including the destination charge - making it an extra $36,100 when compared to a base M3 Competition xDrive. Production is expected to commence in March 2023.

BMW's latest entrant to its lineup of high-performance cars is the M3 CS for 2024. The BMW M3 CS is easily recognizable due to its unique kidney grille, which is similar to the one seen on the M4 CSL. This grille includes a "M3 CS" badge on the upper bars and red contour lines around the outside. Additionally, its daytime running lights have been altered to yellow for a motorsport-inspired look, as seen with the M5 CS.

The exterior is constructed from exposed carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the hood (two strips visible), roof, front splitter, front air intakes, mirror caps, rear apron and rear spoiler - all helping reduce weight. Inside the car there are M Carbon bucket seats as standard equipment and a titanium muffler fitted instead of the standard exhaust system. Altogether this brings the total weight of the BMW M3 CS down by about 75 pounds in comparison with an xDrive Competition model - before factoring in any further savings that may come from opting for carbon ceramic brakes.

 

What makes it stand out is that it features a 3.0-liter twin turbo inline six engine tweaked to deliver 543 horsepower - a 40 horsepower increase from the regular M3 Competition - while torque output remains at 479 pound-feet. BMW achieved this extra power by upping boost pressure from 24.7 psi to 30.5 psi, in addition to model-specific changes to the engine management software.

The BMW M3 CS is designed for optimum performance, featuring specially-designed engine mounts that create a more rigid connection between the engine and vehicle structure. This ensures sharper throttle inputs and efficient torque transmission to the drivetrain. The model comes with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, making it the quickest M3 variant with a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds - 0.2 second faster than a non-CS M3 Competition xDrive model. On top of that, its top speed of 188 mph surpasses that of other M3 variants by 8 mph.

For those who prefer rear-wheel drive, the CS' AWD system can be deactivated and stability control turned off for a 2WD-only mode. Additionally, BMW has improved the oil supply to the multi-plate clutch to ensure optimal performance, even with intense track driving - though this does come at the expense of no manual transmission option.

The BMW M3 CS is equipped with a number of special upgrades to its chassis that are designed to improve its handling. These include newly tuned electronically controlled dampers and anti-roll bars, unique wheel camber settings, and model-specific axle kinematics tuning. The steering has also been specially calibrated for the CS model, as have the stability control and AWD system.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tires are available at no extra cost, along with conventional high-performance tires as standard setup. The wheels consist of 19" in front and 20" in rear, available in either Gold Bronze or matte black finish. Optional M Carbon ceramic brakes can be fitted for additional precision, otherwise the M3 Competition xDrive's standard brakes are installed.

The interior of the BMW M3 CS boasts a single black Merino leather upholstery option for the seats, accented with Mugello red bits and stitching. The center console sports a red “CS” logo, and the door sill plates feature the same inscription.

 

The M steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara and marked by a red center marker, while its Carbon fiber paddle shifter add to the carbon fiber-themed trim. Moreover, it comes equipped with the M Drive Professional package as standard equipment - featuring components such as the M Drift Analyzer, laptiming functionality and 10-stage traction control system. Lastly, it includes a 14.9-inch Curved Display running on iDrive 8 infotainment system which will debut in 2023 for all BMW M3 models.

BMW has announced that the M3 CS will be "built in limited numbers", with the starting price set at $119,695 including the destination charge - making it an extra $36,100 when compared to a base M3 Competition xDrive. Production of this model is expected to begin in March 2023.

Source: BMW