Just a month after the 2021 BMW M4 blasted in, bringing its divisive styling and outstanding performance to Australian roads, the coupe has been spotted by our spy photographers with parts that indicate a long-anticipated CS or CSL version is on its way.
Caught lapping the Nurburgring in Germany with additional aerodynamic parts at the front and rear that distance it from the regular M4, the track-oriented variant of the high-performance coupe is set to be a limited-run model that is significantly lighter and even more agile than the 1725kg M4 Competition.
The aero tweaks seen on the camouflaged car include a bigger front splitter, larger rear diffuser and longer rear spoiler.
The jury’s out on how much extra work will be done on the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight petrol six that produces 353kW/550Nm in the M4 (mated to a six-speed manual), rising to 375kW/650Nm in the Competition-spec model that uses an eight-speed torque-converter automatic.
While there’s no word yet on an M3 version, it’s no surprise that the track-oriented M4 is nearing production.
BMW M boss Markus Flasch told carsales in 2019 that we should expect a broader range of CS and CSL variants from the M division’s new-generation models.
“We will see more limited-editions, especially models like the CS and, I can imagine, the CSL,” he said.
“We won’t do this for every car but I would go as far as to say that we also don’t have to stick to coupes only. I can imagine CS and other special versions also will turn up.
“There will be CS and maybe CSL. There won’t be a GTS in parallel with CSL.
“CSL stands for light weight, CSL stands for racetrack ability, and for the purest M character that you can achieve on a car that has still got licence plates on it.”