Snarling BMW M3 CS coming to Oz

BMW's M3 CS will enter production in March next year – and will arrive in Australia a few months later.

BMW Australia issued an international press release today, outlining the major spec changes over the M3 Competition on which it's based. And the order books open from January of next year for the 1200-unit production run, but buyers may have to get their skates on.

"We're definitely going to take them, once we understand where deliveries will sit," explained Adam Davis, Product Communications Manager for BMW Australia. "I think it would be around [the third quarter] of next year that we'll see them locally.

"In terms of allocations… it's too early to even speculate what we'll get out of that global 1200 [but with] our consistent performance with M [market] share I'd be hopeful we could get more than a handful."

So that's the word: M3 CS will go on sale here, and it will begin finding homes in Australia about nine months from now, but no one can say just how many will be registered for Aussie roads.

And to recap information published previously, BMW claims that the M3 CS will produce 338kW and 600Nm from its 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six – 7kW and 50Nm more than the M3 Competition Package – for a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds. Driven gently, the limited-edition CS is expected to return a fuel consumption figure of 8.3L/100km.

As standard the M3 CS will come with the M Driver's Package, Adaptive M suspension, Active M Differential and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, with most of the underpinnings carried over from the M3 Competition Package. BMW engineers have recalibrated the control system for the adaptive suspension and active differential to suit the M3 CS application.

Externally, the M3 CS will feature three-section air intakes in the front apron and a carbon-fibre Gurney lip spoiler on the boot lid to help reduce lift. Alloy wheels specified for the M3 C2 will be 9Jx19 front, 10Jx20 rear, respectively shod with 265/35 R19 and 285/30 R20 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. BMW will also offer buyers the option of Michelin Sport road tyres.

And the M3 CS will upholstered in two-tone (Silverstone/Black) leather and Alcantara, and standard comfort and convenience features will include automatic climate control, a Harman Kardon surround-sound system and the Navigation system Professional.