All-New BMW 3.0 CSL Debuts – 552 HP from M’s Most Powerful Straight-Six Ever!

Special commemorative models are some of the most sought-after cars out there. Be it for milestone anniversary or celebrating victories, these are usually built with no holds barred. Carmakers would throw out their rulebooks and cost margins reports when building one, as said models are meant to represent the brand’s core DNA.

The latest of which is the all-new BMW 3.0 CSL. Specially built by the Bavarian marque to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its M Division performance arm, the BMW 3.0 CSL boasts striking design that pays homage to M’s racing heritage, as well as being a totally different car from the standard M4 it underpins.

This new 3.0 CSL (stands for Competition, Sport and Lightweight) continues the heritage of the stoic badge, first started by the ‘original’ BMW 3.0 CSL way back in the 70s. Dubbed as the ‘Batmobile’ due to its aggressive rear wing resembling the fictitious detective’s ride, the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL underpins the standard BMW E9 3 Series, with some performance tweaks being done here and there.

The new 3.0 CSL is poised to follow suit, with the M4’s standard straight-six twin-turbo mill being beefed-up, essentially making it M’s most powerful inline-six engine, yet. Said powertrain now outputs 552 HP and 550 NM, with peak horsepower slightly boosted compared to the standard M4, albeit at the price of slightly reduced torque by about 100 NM.

This is probably due to M’s insistence in putting the manual six-speed gearbox, hence limiting its torque output. But hey, at least the M enthusiasts are happy with their stick shifts.

Wearing BMW M’s iconic racing livery, the all-new 3.0 CSL boasts some radical and minor changes from the standard M4 Coupe. Firstly, the base-car’s controversial and massive kidney grille is gone, replaced by a much more subtle yet relatively big front grille with lattice inserts. Flanking on both sides of said grille is a pair of yellow-tinged laser LED headlights that came straight out of the M4 CSL.

Paying homage to the original 3.0 CSL is the inclusion of hood-mounted air fins, as well as the iconic ‘Batmobile’ rear wing. Embossed with the M Power logo, the sharp-angled rear wing spans along the car’s actual width, albeit being shorter in height compared to the 1973 original. Complementing said rear wing is the roof-mounted spoiler – another homage to the 70s BMW E9.

The side profile reveals flared fenders that house the CSL’s massive 20/21-inch centre-lock front and rear wheels. Hued in golden glitz, the Y-spoked wheels are wrapped in track-ready Michelin tyres. The 3.0 CSL will also come standard with “50” racing number painted on its side, commemorating the M’s half-century milestone. Hiding behind said wheels are M-specific carbon ceramic brakes.

The Alpine White-hued 3.0 CSL rides on a track-ready M suspension system, featuring electronically-controlled shocks and adaptive dampers. All of its power will be delivered via M differential system to the rear wheels.

Inside the CSL’ cabin lies full carbon bucket seats, as well as CFRP-finished dash and door cards. The carbon-laden interior is being brightened by white-tinged manual gear knob, embossed with the “50” anniversary logo.

The all-new BMW 3.0 CSL will be limited to just 50 units, each unit being individually numbered, as one should. For now, no official pricing was announced. As per special models, expect a rather hefty price tag on this limited-edition.