The BMW M4 has been put on a diet and muscled up for the return of the CS, confirmed to rejoin the Australian lineup after a five-year hiatus.
BMW Australia has announced just 50 examples of the M4 CS will come to local showrooms, each priced from $254,900 before on-road costs. A launch date hasn’t yet been confirmed.
That’s almost $70,000 more expensive than the M4 Competition coupe’s $186,500 before on-roads price – though it’s a saving compared to the $303,900 figure commanded by the more hardcore M4 CSL of which only 30 examples made it to Australia in 2022.
BMW facelifted the M4 earlier this year, though the coupe has been without a CS grade since the previous-generation model.
The M4 CS’s 3.0-litre inline-six cylinder engine now has revised twin turbochargers, netting a 15kW increase, raising its outputs to 405kW of power and 650Nm of torque.
Drive continues to be delivered to all four wheels through an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, and the power bump is one factor behind a 0.1 second saving in the M4 CS’s 3.4 second 0-100km/h sprint time.
Thanks to the standard addition of the M Driver’s Package, the M4 CS’s top speed is limited to 305km/h.
A lightweight exhaust and other weight-saving measures such as a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonnet, splitter and diffuser among other components mean the M4 CS tips the scales at 1755kg, 20kg lighter than the M4 Competition.
Additional CFRP parts include its mirror caps, rear spoiler, bucket seats, centre console, shifter paddles and interior trim pieces.
BMW claims the M4 CS was able to lap the 20.832km Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes and 21.989 seconds – about four seconds slower than the M4 CSL, but almost seven seconds faster than the M3 CS.
It’s not clear whether this time was achieved with optional parts fitted, which includes a front strut brace (standard on Australian examples), upgraded carbon ceramic brakes (a $19,000 extra locally) and “ultra track tyres”, available in place of the standard semi-slick track-focused rubber.
A set of bespoke V-spoke design forged M light-alloy wheels can be ordered in either matte Gold Bronze or Black, measuring 19- and 20-inches in diameter at the front and rear, respectively.
The wheels are just one of the visual cues setting the M4 CS apart from the base coupe, teamed with exclusive paint finishes (Riviera Blue and Frozen Isle of Man Green Metallic), exposed carbon-fibre elements, red highlights and yellow daytime running lights.
Standard equipment includes:
- Driving Assistant Professional system:
- Lane-centring assist
- Automatic speed limit assist
- Traffic light recognition
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- M front strut brace
- CS-bespoke Full leather ‘Merino’ upholstery
- M forged alloy wheels (19-inch front, 20-inch rear)
- Adaptive LED headlights with yellow detail
- M carbon exterior package
- Power boot-lid
- Merino leather upholstery
- Power-adjustable M carbon bucket seats with heating
- Head-up display
- Flat-bottom Alcantara steering wheel
- BMW Curved Display (12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch infotainment screen)
- BMW iDrive 8.5 operating software
- Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- ‘Luxury’ instrument panel
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Harman Kardon sound system
- Cloud-based navigation system
- M Drive Professional system:
- Lap timer
- Drift analyser
- Variable traction control
- Track mode
- Choice of four colours:
- M Brooklyn Grey metallic
- Black Sapphire metallic
- Riviera Blue
- Frozen Isle of Man Green Metallic
MORE: Everything BMW M4
