A legend reborn in 543-hp limited-run 2023 BMW M4 CSL



(May 23, 2022) WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ — A legend is reborn. As its 50th  birthday celebrations gather steam, BMW M GmbH is unveiling a very special limited edition model. The new 2023 BMW M4 CSL fuses old-school racing passion with innovative technology to create an inimitable performance experience. Its standalone character profile is rooted in two core features — a power hike of 40 horsepower over the current BMW M4 Competition to 543 hp and a 240-pound reduction in weight.


The new BMW M4 CSL represents a highly concentrated showcase for the racing craft of BMW M GmbH and its expertise in powertrain and chassis development and lightweight design. For example, the company can call on many years of experience in working with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) for body, chassis, and interior components.

The M engineers have managed to restrict the CSL’s curb weight to 3,640 pounds. An outstanding power-to-weight ratio of 6.7 pounds/horsepower provides the ideal platform for a dynamically masterful driving experience. The new BMW M4 CSL can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, while the top speed is an electronically limited 191 mph.

With its next-level power, intelligent lightweight design, two-seater configuration, model-specific chassis upgrades and equipment features selected specifically for the job at hand, the new BMW M4 CSL has track driving as its raison d’être. Never before has the overall vehicle concept of a production model been so close to that of the related BMW M GmbH racer. The genes the new BMW M4 CSL shares with its competition-spec sibling, the BMW M4 GT3, are also reflected in its performance attributes.

In test runs on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, which represent the ultimate yardstick for brand-typical dynamics like agility and handling precision for all BMW M cars, the M4 CSL posted a lap time of 7:20.2, the fastest time ever for a series-production BMW.

Lap times aside, the new BMW M4 CSL also offers the everyday usability for which high-performance sports cars from BMW M are celebrated. This means drivers can enjoy an intense racing-car feeling on the road as well as on the track. The M4 CSL follows in the tire tracks of illustrious special-edition models from earlier generations of the BMW M3 and M4. Like the legendary BMW M3 CSL of 2003 and the BMW M4 GTS released in 2016, the new special edition from BMW M GmbH delivers a driving experience as bewitching as it is exclusive.

Production of the new BMW M4 CSL will begin at Plant Dingolfing in July and will be limited to just 1,000 units globally. The MSRP is $140,895 including destination charge.

The key factors in the standout performance attributes of the new BMW M4 CSL can be found in its name. Lightweight design has played a central role at BMW M GmbH from day one. In 1973, the BMW 3.0 CSL developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH won the European Touring Car Championship in its first attempt — thanks in no small measure to a commitment to cutting the weight of its series-produced donor model.

Today, the CSL designation stands for “Competition, Sport, Lightweight" and identifies high-performance models with very high power, rigorously reduced weight, and a track-focused character.

Intelligent lightweight design was a fundamental strategy in the development of the new BMW M4 CSL, one that was applied on a detailed level. A focus on the attributes considered essential for an elite sports car was accompanied by the selective use of materials, meaning all the performance and functionality the customer expects is present, but while adding significantly less weight.

For example, conventional components for the exterior and interior, powertrain and chassis were replaced with lightweight model-specific alternatives. Fitting M Carbon full bucket seats alone reduced weight by 53 lbs, while a further 46 lbs were saved by removing the rear seats and seat belts and integrating a partition between the cabin and luggage compartment. Chassis alterations, including the addition of standard lightweight M Carbon ceramic brakes and forged light-alloy wheels, springs and struts, reduced weight by another 46 lbs.

Switching to ultra-lightweight sound insulation and reducing the amount used saved another 33 lbs. The use of CFRP components on the outside and inside of the M4 CSL saves an additional 24 lbs. A titanium rear silencer cuts more than 9 lbs from the weight of the exhaust system. Detail modifications shave another 8 lbs from areas including the BMW kidney grille, rear lights, floor mats and automatic climate control.