What is it?
It might seem odd to describe a near-£90,000 BMW M4 as the middle-of-the-range model, but that’s exactly what the M4 CS is.
It plugs the BMW yawning chasm between the regular £58,365 M4 and the limited edition, track-focused M4 GTS, which cost an eye-watering £120,500.
The justification for that £89,130 price tag is the use of some of the GTS’s exotic weight-saving parts. Truth be told, though, all you’re really getting from the hardcore model are its carbonfibre bonnet and lightweight door skins (more of which in a moment).
It isn't as though the CS also borrows the GTS’s trick water injection system or its fancy manually adjustable suspension. Instead, it simply uses a revised version of the same adaptive damping system that you’ll find on the standard M4.
It does get an uplift in power compared to the M4 Competition Package, though. (That’s the model that carries a modest £3000 premium over the standard M4 and lifts power and torque to 444bhp and 406lb ft.)
The CS has 454bhp and 443lb ft, which has been achieved simply through new engine management software. The CS also gets Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres - the same rubber used by the GTS.
The carbonfibre rear lip spoiler and front splitter are unique to CS, while the diffuser is taken from the GTS. BMW says the CS is 35kg lighter than a BMW compared to a regular, twin-clutch gearbox equipped M4.
The CS is not a limited-series model and BMW expects to build around 2000 examples over the next two years.
We first sampled the CS on roads near the Nürburgring back in May; now is our opportunity to drive it on more familiar, and more demanding, British roads.
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Bad trend.
Bad trend.
They should make a lighter M4 with a NA L6.
Poor BMW and M...
Worth repairing?
Because BMW can get away with it.
Welcome Dan!
Glad to see your talents have been recognised Dan and I will look forward to reading your car opinions on a more regular basis now.