Wednesday 4th May 2022

2022 BMW M4 CSL reveal confirmed for May

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este will host the world premiere of the eagerly anticipated new G82 M4 CSL

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'Beauty belongs on the catwalk', is the opening salvo of BMW's press release concerning its appearance at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. For much of its turnout - naturally the firm will continue its celebration of 50 years of M GmbH at the event - there will be ample evidence of its devotion to good looks. Whether or not the statement applies to the new M4 CSL, the ultimate version of the not-universally-adored G82, remains to be seen.

Either way, the release confirms that yes, the leaner, meaner version of the M4 we've seen pounding around the Nurburgring exists, and yes, it is absolutely going to be badged as a Coupe Sport Leichtbau. Which, of course, means it reactivates a nameplate that has lain dormant since it was applied to a hallowed version (the recipient of PH's all-time best BMW M car award, no less) of the already cherished E46.

Obviously this levers a prodigious amount of expectation onto the model's shoulder parts. BMW M has not stopped producing lighter, faster versions of its definitive model in the intervening years, but it has typically shied away from using the CSL badge to market them - even when they far exceeded the blueprint established by the E46. Now that it is set to change with what is almost certainly going to be a limited-edition variant of the already spectacularly fast G82.

Quite what format its alterations will take is still not known, although it's no great leap to suggest that both mass and aerodynamic efficiency will have been seen to (the latest teaser shot pictured virtually confirms that) alongside what's likely to be a significant chassis overhaul. Whether or not BMW has opted to deliver more power is still open to question (although we're going to say it almost definitely has if only to justify a significant premium). Regardless, we now know for sure that all the speculation has an end point. Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is due to kick off May 20th.

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• 2021 BMW M4 Competition xDrive | PH Review
• 2021 BMW M4 Competition | PH Review

[big_rob_sydney]

Wonder how light it will be.

[SidewaysSi]

Stripped out, 1100KG, NA 600bhp engine, bin the EPAS and other BS. Sub £100k. Sorted.

[cerb4.5lee]

big_rob_sydney said:

Wonder how light it will be.

That was my first thought too.

Knowing BMW they will have only took about 30kg off the standard model!

Joking aside...this will surely still be a heavy car I reckon. I'm still looking forward to reading about it though, because I really like the standard G82 M4.

[stongle]

SidewaysSi said:

Stripped out, 1100KG, NA 600bhp engine, bin the EPAS and other BS. Sub £100k. Sorted.

650kg weight loss? That's some stripping out, especially at 100k.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

stongle said:

SidewaysSi said:

Stripped out, 1100KG, NA 600bhp engine, bin the EPAS and other BS. Sub £100k. Sorted.

650kg weight loss? That's some stripping out, especially at 100k.

I think his post was tongue-in-cheek

[NDNDNDND]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

stongle said:

SidewaysSi said:

Stripped out, 1100KG, NA 600bhp engine, bin the EPAS and other BS. Sub £100k. Sorted.

650kg weight loss? That's some stripping out, especially at 100k.

I think his post was tongue-in-cheek

Maybe they'll do a Smokey Yunick and surreptitiously make it two thirds of the original size...

[Leins]

The wrong car to be starting with for this sort of thing. M2 CSL is what's needed

[don logan]

Leins said:

The wrong car to be starting with for this sort of thing. M2 CSL is what's needed

Very good point!

And what’s this thing going to weigh? A featherweight 1650 kgs?

[anonymous-user]

What is a 2022 BMW doing at a Concorso d'Eleganza?

[redroadster]

Nissan proved with gtr that weight in itself did not matter when you have power, I myself do prefer the feel of lighter cars however this amount of power might need weight to keep it planted.

[WCZ]

redroadster said:

Nissan proved with gtr that weight in itself did not matter when you have power, I myself do prefer the feel of lighter cars however this amount of power might need weight to keep it planted.

the problem is that none of these light edition cars are even anywhere near light enough to well, feel light! so a few extra kg makes no difference in feel imo

i'm expecting -50kg and £110,000 spec'd

[epom]

M4 CSL, £100K. Want one that's actually lighter and more powerful Sir ? Certainly Sir step this way towards the options table

[heavyearly76]

BMW selected the pre-eminent celebration of automotive style and beauty to unveil what is probably the ugliest M-series ever produced. Touche BMW, well played... :/ Jesu% C$rist

[digitalrurouni]

Doesn't BMW have expertise with CFRP material? Surely for the CSL they could use that to actually make it a proper CSL rather than just a marketing exercise.

[British Beef]

I predict:

Weight: reduced by 3 - 4 % - less 70kg
Power: increased by 7 - 8 % - additional 40 bhp
Price increased by 40 - 45 % - close to 911 GT3 RRP

[Mark-C]

British Beef said:

I predict:

Weight: reduced by 3 - 4 % - less 70kg
Power: increased by 7 - 8 % - additional 40 bhp
Price increased by 40 - 45 % - close to 911 GT3 RRP

Which will lead to lots of moaning round these parts and them selling out every one they make.

[Hairymonster]

And the most contentious design feature of all recent Beemers is blacked out.

Any bets on what sort of size the kidney grilles will be?

Edited by Hairymonster on Wednesday 4th May 15:51

[la grange]

Hmmmm, yes, it will be wonderful as should be.
But am still struggling with the the Jimmy Durante ‘snozzle’

[Leins]

digitalrurouni said:

Doesn't BMW have expertise with CFRP material? Surely for the CSL they could use that to actually make it a proper CSL rather than just a marketing exercise.

To be fair to them, that was the raison d’etre for the E46 CSL two decades ago, and has already filtered down to standard models now

I’m not sure where they go from the standard M4 to further utilise CF and related polymers. Wheels and driveshafts maybe, but not seeing that as revolutionary

Other than a marketing tool, I just don’t know if the concept of a CSL makes sense anymore. Or maybe it needs a rethink.

How about a stripped out 2-series, as many carbon panels as possible, with a screamer of an NA engine and as few electronics as possible. If Porsche can do it with a GT4 RS, why can’t BMW M?! Would it showcase all that is the future for BMW - well obviously not. But it would be more “CS” and especially “L” than what I suspect this M4 will be (which should probably stick with the GTS moniker)

Edited by Leins on Wednesday 4th May 15:53

[s m]

Leins said:

To be fair to them, that was the raison d’etre for the E46 CSL two decades ago, and has already filtered down to standard models now

I’m not sure where they go from the standard M4 to further utilise CF and related polymers. Wheels and driveshafts maybe, but not seeing that as revolutionary

Other than a marketing tool, I just don’t know if the concept of a CSL makes sense anymore. Or maybe it needs a rethink.

How about a stripped out 2-series, as many carbon panels as possible, with a screamer of an NA engine and as few electronics as possible. If Porsche can do it with a GT4 RS, why can’t BMW M?! Would it showcase all that is the future for BMW - well obviously not. But it would be more “CS” and especially “L” than what I suspect this M4 will be (which should probably stick with the GTS moniker)

Edited by Leins on Wednesday 4th May 15:53

Didn’t they toy with that idea with the 1-coupe years back - a tii version?
Never happened
But we did get the 1M