BMW 3.0 CSL reborn as 412kW M4

UPDATED 28/11/2022 5:00pm: Sadly, BMW Australia advises the strictly limited BMW 3.0 CSL will be produced only in left-hand drive, ruling it out for local release.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 28/11/2022 10:00am: BMW M has revealed its latest 50th birthday present to itself – a modern-day reboot of the iconic BMW 3.0 CSL that draws direct inspiration from the original 1970s ‘Batmobile’.

Announcing that it will make just 50 examples of the BMW 3.0 CSL, BMW says the new BMW M4-based creation conveys the ‘ethos’ of the original.

But the headline news is that the rapid track-bred coupe comes equipped with the most powerful inline six-cylinder ever fitted to a road-going BMW.

BMW first touted the idea of reviving the 3.0 CSL back in 2015 with the appropriately named 3.0 CSL Hommage that was unwrapped at the Concours d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy and it’s thought that concept heavily influenced this new production version.

The yellow-tinted headlights and laser tail-lights, meanwhile, are fresh off the BMW M4 CSL – although they look different because of the redesigned front and rear fenders.

Gone is the dominant ‘big-mouth’ grille of the M3 and M4, replaced by new kidney grilles finished in aluminium. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic is used for almost all body panels, including the roof, bonnet and boot lid, although there’s also been lots of carbon-fibre incorporated into the 3.0 CSL’s construction and the exhaust is titanium.

Mimicking the original E9 3.0 CSL Batmobile, the high-output BMW coupe gets a huge rear wing and additional roof spoiler.

The German brand says its special Alpine paint and racing livery – including BMW M graphics – took an incredible 6700 hours to apply.

Finally, the gold alloy wheels measure 20-inch up front and 21-inch at the rear, and sport bespoke Michelin rubber.

Inside, the BMW M4 interior mostly carries over but is almost entirely covered in black Alcantara. There’s also a matt carbon-fibre finish.

Instead of a rear bench seat there’s storage space for two crash helmets, while 3.0 CSL emblems have been engraved into the head restraint inserts and dash.

The BMW 3.0 CSL also features less sound absorbing material, saving more weight.

But it doesn't quite emulate its original namesake, which weighed just 1270kg. BMW hasn't revealed a kerb weight figure for the modern 3.0 CSL, only a weight-to-power figure of 2.9kg/hp, which would put it at 1624kg.

Strangely, that's almost identical to the standard M4 CSL limited-edition (1625kg), which is nonetheless 100kg lighter than the regular M4 Competition.

One retro feature of the 3.0 CSL cabin is the white gearshift knob that looks like it’s been lifted from the original.

Under the bonnet the 3.0 CSL packs a 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder that produces 412kW of power and 550Nm of torque – 7kW more than the CSL but 100Nm less on account of the torque limitations of the six-speed manual.

Channelling its power to the rear wheels only, the 3.0 CSL gets an active M differential and retuned adaptive dampers, plus carbon ceramic brakes.

No performance claims have been released, nor how much BMW will charge for each of the 50 vehicles it will build. It’s not been revealed how many right-hand drive versions of the 3.0 CSL will be produced by BMW M, nor whether any will be earmarked for Australia.

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