The latest BMW M4 CSL holds the record for fastest lap around the Nürburgring Nordschleife of any production BMW: 7:20.2. While we had only a brief taste of the car on the streets of Palm Springs, California, we can confirm this: It wants to go fast–and you want to go fast in it.
This variant is far more than just a retooled M4, according to John Kelly, project manager for M cars.
“The M4 CSL is the pinnacle of the M4 lineup,” says John. “It uses the M4 Competition as the starting point. We increased power and we’ve reduced the weight.”
[ICYMI: The BMW M4 CSL is a 543-horsepower celebration of the M Division’s 50th birthday]
More power? Less weight? That’s a great combination, of course. But, there’s more to it than that sound bite.
Must be nice to be able to look at a $200,000 track toy and be like "Yeah, I could swing that."
calteg
SuperDork
11/11/22 2:12 p.m.
Article idea: This car versus a 2007 335i on corn juice, straight pipe and a tune. Even in this market, I see early 335's under $10,000 all day long, sometimes even under $5000.
Be interesting to see how much more speed the extra $150,000 buys you...
I get that they needed to get more air in to cool all those ponies. But what a fugly nose on that thing. Man BMW's design team is just awful.
JoeTR6
Dork
11/11/22 7:23 p.m.
I'll bet it still can't outrun ugly.
STM317
PowerDork
11/11/22 8:06 p.m.
$145k is a whole lot of money. It's nearly $100k more than the entry price for a 4 series (easily over that with a small dealer markup).
Other hardcore track options at the $145k price point:
Porsche GT4 RS
C8 ZO6 with ZO7/full carbon package and ~$20k left over
2 Camaro ZL1 1LE's
Didn't Ford try a front end design that ugly in the 50's ? Edsel v.2
LanEvo
Dork
11/11/22 9:56 p.m.
Two friends of mine have these new M3/4 models with the giant nostrils. I have to say, they look a lot better in real life than they do in pics. One is in a metallic green color that really looks pretty sweet.
They also look a LOT better with "rest of the world" license plates. A long, thin, Euro-style front plate bisects the nostrils and balances things out quite a bit. I'm sure BMW designers had those plates in mind.
Huggs
New Reader
11/12/22 1:00 a.m.
In reply to STM317 :
~60 grand for 40hp, 240 pounds (to still be over 3600 haha), and... exclusivity? That hurts before the competitors, and reading those hurts. And you're 100% in carrera S territory.
dps214
Dork
11/12/22 1:05 a.m.
calteg said:
Article idea: This car versus a 2007 335i on corn juice, straight pipe and a tune. Even in this market, I see early 335's under $10,000 all day long, sometimes even under $5000.
Be interesting to see how much more speed the extra $150,000 buys you...
Well unlike a tuned $5k 335i, it'll finish a lap without blowing up. So a pretty big time difference.
Having seen an M4 in real life, it's not as bad as it looks in photos, I'd even say it's decent looking in the right situation. Dark colors are very much their friend though.
