When it seems like the automotive world is crackling with electricity on our roads and that the sport utility vehicle (SUV) is the only game in town, we must give thanks to the German brand BMW for keeping it real. This premium car is a motoring monster and it is a good thing that a car maker is still keeping faith with folk who love to drive.
The new BMW M3 CS is an exclusive high-performance car that combines supreme dynamic prowess with the everyday usability of a ‘standard’ M3 saloon. With intelligent lightweight construction, this new powerhouse features carbon fibre-reinforced plastic components, increased engine power and a bespoke chassis setup. It’s a unique model; not just another ‘ordinary’ M3.
On The Outside
Featuring a carbon fibre roof, the M3 CS also uses lightweight, high-tech material for its bonnet, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler, all of which help to reduce weight, as does the titanium rear silencer. Over twenty kilograms are saved in this way compared with the standard M3. Lighter weight means improved performance.
Body rigidity has been further increased by high-precision strut braces for the engine compartment, that have also been engineered for lightness. The vehicle’s front end sports a weight-saving, frameless BMW kidney grille with a stripped-back design reminiscent of a racing car. Unique to this model, red contour lines are featured along with the “M3 CS” badging on the upper of the two horizontal grille bars. Both the model badge at the front and its counterpart on the boot lid have black surfaces with a red border. BMW ‘Laserlight’ headlights, also included as part of the standard specification, add a particularly striking and distinct look to the front end.
Standard specification includes M Compound brakes with the brake callipers painted in red. Optional M Carbon ceramic brakes are also available, with brake callipers in matt gold or red. The standard equipment list also includes forged M light-alloy wheels in an exclusive V-spoke design, with a gold bronze finish or an optional matt black finish. Measuring 19 inch at the front and 20 inch at the rear, they are shod with track tyres that have been purpose-developed for this special-edition model, measuring 275/35 ZR19 and 285/30 ZR20 at the front and rear respectively.
On The Inside
The weight saving continues inside. The centre console, the shift paddles on the steering wheel and the interior trim strips are also all manufactured from CFRP. The standard M Carbon bucket seats are a model-specific design, fitted as standard and are fully electric and heated. They include integral head restraints along with an illuminated model badge.
The seats are upholstered in Merino leather and feature an exclusive design in a black/red colour scheme with distinctive contrast stitching. This bi-colour finish is repeated for the two rear seats. The door panels are trimmed entirely in black leather in both the front and the rear, while red “CS” lettering adorns the lightweight-design centre console.
The standard interior equipment list for the new BMW M3 CS also includes: M seat belts with a woven stripe pattern in BMW M GmbH colours; door sill plates bearing the designation “M3 CS”; an anthracite-coloured headliner; interior trim strips in a carbon fibre finish and an Alcantara steering wheel with CFRP shift paddles and a red top-dead-centre marker.
The M Mode button on the centre console (don’t touch that button!) also part of the M Drive Professional package, can be used to adjust both the level of driver assistance system activity and the content shown in the information display and optional Head-Up Display, with a choice of ROAD, SPORT and TRACK settings.
The latest generation of BMW iDrive is standard in this very special car which includes the BMW Curved Display for the cockpit. This features a 12.3 inch information display and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches. These are housed together behind a curved glass surface. With its ergonomic driver-centric positioning, the BMW Curved Display makes the already intuitive touch control even more user-friendly.
The BMW M3 CS is also equipped, once again as standard, with the latest version of Comfort Access, two-zone automatic climate control, Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, Park Distance Control, Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and the Speed Limit Info system and all the usual safety and infotainment technology. Additionally, this special-edition model includes the BMW Head-Up Display (with M-specific readouts) and the BMW Drive Recorder. An alarm system, automatic boot lid operation and the Driving Assistant and Parking Assistant systems are also included.
On The Road
Well, just look at it! The BMW M3 CS features a carefully modified version of the high-revving six-cylinder in-line engine, with M TwinPower Turbo technology, developed for the BMW M3 and BMW M4. The modifications result in a maximum of 550bhp, a considerable upgrade in peak output compared with the BMW M3 Competition Saloon.
The power increase is achieved through targeted revisions to the engine’s M TwinPower Turbo technology, we learn. The adjustments primarily involve raising the maximum charge pressure of the two mono-scroll turbochargers from 1.7 to 2.1 bar and making some model-specific tweaks to the engine management. The engineers among us will understand that, the rest f us can just be content with the words, ‘more powerful’.
A specially designed engine mount was also designed to create an extremely rigid connection between the power unit and the vehicle’s structure. This results in an even sharper engine response and direct transmission of its power to the drivetrain. Peak torque of 650Nm is produced between 2,750 and 5,950rpm and maximum output arrives at 6,250rpm. The engine revs to a maximum 7,200rpm.
The engine’s performance characteristics are dominated by its unabated power delivery right through the rev range. Enhancing the soundtrack is the dual-branch exhaust system, featuring electrically controlled flaps and that aforementioned titanium rear silencer with weight-minimising design. In customary M fashion, it features two pairs of matt black tailpipes which help produce the emotionally rich (or loud) soundtrack.
We here at MHH International have driven the regular M3 on a couple of occasions (once on the road and once at the track) and have been astonished by the level of performance, but more particularly by the assured handling. This is what you get when a car is designed for the purpose and not as a generic showroom filler. Find out more about how to import premium BMW cars from the UK to New Zealand, Kenya and other global destinations, VAT free, by getting in touch with us.
