BMW M3 CS breaks cover

BMW has taken the wraps off the limited edition Club Sport (CS) variant of the four-door M3 saloon. The M3 CS is the most hardcore variant of the fifth-generation F80 M3. Like its two-door sibling, the M4 CS, the M3 CS is faster and lighter but comes with the amenity of proper backseats.

Under the bulging hood is the same turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six engine. The power surges to 454bhp which is 30bhp more than the standard M3. The high-performance sedan can now do a 0-100kmph sprint in 3.9seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 280kmph. The M3 CS becomes the fastest-accelerating road-going M3 model yet. All the power is sent to the rear wheels via the seven-speed M DCT transmission.

The M3 CS scrounge the suspension set-up from the Competition Pack. There are additional weight saving measures akin to the M4 CS. So you have an extensive use of carbon fibre on the boot, roof and other composite material. The CS boasts of a power-to-weight ratio of 286bhp/tonne. There are new carbon fibre splitters up front and a lip spoiler on the boot. The special edition light-alloy wheels are wrapped in special 285 section semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. The Adaptive M suspension comes as a standard fitment. Similar to the M3 Competition Package, the CS also comes with the M’s compound brake package, with four-pot callipers up front and two-pot callipers at the rear.

On the inside, the M3 CS gets a two-tone cabin wrapped in Silverstone/Black and Alcantara leather upholstery. Features like automatic climate control, Harman Kardon surround sound system and the Navigation system Professional comes as standard. The newly-designed LED headlight complements the new front splitters while at the rear you have the aggressive diffusers, quad exhausts and a Gurney spoiler lip on the boot lid. All these components are made from the lightweight and extremely rigid carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) material.

The M3 CS will have a limited production run of just 1,200 units. The order books open only in January 2018, while the production will commence in March next year. The CS moniker is legendary in the BMW heritage. The Bavarian carmaker asserts that the CS badging will adorn the beefier versions positioned above the Competition Pack vehicles in the years to come.