A meaner, more powerful BMW M4 is coming to slot in above the Competition.
Our spy photographers captured the vehicle that’s likely to dust off either the CS or CSL nameplate.
There appears to be a unique grille insert, while there’s a small bit of camouflage over the headlights suggesting a change has been made there.
As on the previous set of spy photos, we can see a more aggressive front splitter.
The previous photos also revealed other cosmetic changes, like a larger rear spoiler and diffuser plus what look to be carbon-ceramic brakes, though the grille and headlights appeared unchanged.
A user on the BimmerPost forums shared a list of BMW’s future product plans, reportedly sourced from insiders, and noted an M4 CSL is in the works.
Introduced locally in 2017 and limited to 3000 units globally, the last M4 CS featured a bump in power and torque over the Competition (7kW and 50Nm)
It also featured extensive use of carbon fibre and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic to keep weight down, with these materials used on the front bonnet, splitter, roof and rear diffuser.
There were also bare interior door panels with fabric door pulls, plus extensive use of Alcantara trim.
Should it follow the same formula, the 2022 M4 CS would pack around 380kW of power and 700Nm of torque.
It’s not clear if the CS will have the switchable all-wheel drive system of the M4 Competition, or a lighter and simpler rear-wheel drive setup.
The previous-generation M4 CS was priced above the Competition but below the GTS, a nameplate that’s been retired.
In its place, BMW officials told The Drive in 2018 the company will resurrect the CSL name.
The F82 M4 GTS was even lighter than the CS and boasted more power, with an extra 30kW from its twin-turbocharged inline-six.
The last CSL-badged BMW was the E46 M3 CSL, which was 110kg lighter than the regular M3 and packed extra power and torque.
Since then, BMW has used the GTS badge on its rarest lightweight specials, and the CS badge on other less expensive (but still stripped-back) models.
MORE: Everything BMW M4
