RE: 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL revealed

[C.MW]

If they launched this as the new m3/4, I wouldn't have minded. I mean, really. Even with nostrils that large, it looks more cohesive and dare I say, more restrained than the m car.

[McGee_22]

The only problem with the E9 was that the E24 was better looking.

The only problem with E24 was that it wasn’t pillarless unlike the E9 and E31.

The only problem with this new car is the entire aesthetic design in comparison to the car it’s meant to pay homage to.

[Leins]

SS427 Camaro said:

sege said:

Yes, agreed, the E46 CSL is the greatest car ever made. Although EVO magazine thought it lacked steering feel and a Subaru was a better drivers car. So on second thought, I'd get a Subaru instead really.

Seriously Ludicrous that that magazine thought that the E46 M3 CSL lacked “steering feel “
My old 2003 E46 M3 had been fitted with a new CSL rack and omg the steering was utterly Superb !!!

I found the steering quick, but not fantastically communicative. Also slightly offset from the driving position in RHD form, but that never bothered me. It was possibly the only flaw to the car IMO (except that it wasn’t an estate! )

My E30 at the time was the exact opposite in terms of steering

As for the E46 not being special, as intimated by another poster, I would humbly disagree. One of the most special cars to ever come out of Munich for me

[SturdyHSV]

Mark_Blanchard said:

Shame the couldn't have stuck with the great looking CSL concept they designed.

I saw the article preview and thought "fk me, they've actually made the concept!"

Then I read the article, and realised they'd put a liberty walk kit on an M4.

For further inspiration of "what could've been", I forgot their Vision Gran Turismo concept wasn't the same as the CSL concept above until I looked it up. Another better job:



https://www.gran-turismo.com/us/vgt/bmw/

[bcr5784]

BFleming said:

I've held off from saying much all day, but I'm a Celeb is on, and I have to find something else to do. Anyhow... I love it. OK, it looks like those VW projects where the the interns get free rein for their projects, but... yeah... I quite like it. The mooted €750k price.... well it's halo, so that's justified right there.
Wasn't the last CSL the E46 M3 CSL? Yeah, a variation on an E46 theme rather than anything special.

Edited by BFleming on Thursday 24th November 21:39

Evo speculated a 7! figure asking price.

[BFleming]

bcr5784 said:

Evo speculated a 7! figure asking price.

That was Porsche 918 money, and this is no Porsche 918.

[Leins]

This is all getting a bit silly, but if they can sell them then I suppose crack on BMW

As an aside, I just wish they’d production built the tii concept from 2007



High-revving 4-cyl turbo (c.260hp?) and a fair amount of weight saving through carbon fibre, etc. Styling maybe not to everyone’s tastes admittedly, but for me a lot more cohesive than this New CSL v2.0

[Kawasicki]

Leins said:

This is all getting a bit silly, but if they can sell them then I suppose crack on BMW

As an aside, I just wish they’d production built the tii concept from 2007



High-revving 4-cyl turbo (c.260hp?) and a fair amount of weight saving through carbon fibre, etc. Styling maybe not to everyone’s tastes admittedly, but for me a lot more cohesive than this New CSL v2.0

My friend worked on that project… said it was friggin awesome.

[JEA1K]

GreatScott2016 said:

That is seriously bad looking, inside and out! Horrific abomination.

I want to see what their saying in the USA ... I bet they love it and its right up their street

Having slept on it, my opinion hasn't changed, its an absolute MUNTER.

[Chunkychucky]

BFleming said:

projects where the the interns get free rein for their projects, but... yeah... I quite like it. The mooted €750k price.... well it's halo, so that's justified right there.

Edited by BFleming on Thursday 24th November 21:39

Hmmm.. justified? Perhaps.. although anyone with a modicum of taste or sense will realise the ridiculousness of paying nearly 7 figures for a 'halo model' that wears the same branding as Dazza's E90 320d with black kidney grilles, fake M badges plastered all over, and a smokey 'coal map'/DPF delete. A bit like going out and paying £5k for a limited edition, matching MacKenzie tracksuit, if you will.

Perhaps the halo model works for Porsche or whomever, but honestly the people that drive BMWs now and the models they produce, it's not a desirable enough brand to want to be associated with anymore. And as someone whose family has had BMWs for >50 years, that's a real shame.

[NSNO]

What is it with BMW lately, seems like they are having an internal competition on making each model or even reiteration of the model uglier and uglier. What is with the grille on this thing with the big bulge. It reminds me of a beluga whale.

[Wadeski]

Why didnt they do the bigger grille this way in the first place?

[1974foggy]

Mark_Blanchard said:

Shame the couldn't have stuck with the great looking CSL concept they designed.

Exactly this

[B'stard Child]

Leins said:

This is all getting a bit silly, but if they can sell them then I suppose crack on BMW

As an aside, I just wish they’d production built the tii concept from 2007



High-revving 4-cyl turbo (c.260hp?) and a fair amount of weight saving through carbon fibre, etc. Styling maybe not to everyone’s tastes admittedly, but for me a lot more cohesive than this New CSL v2.0

I'm not a great fan of 4 pot engines or overweight cars but I'd like that (without the stripes please)

[Court_S]

rwindmill said:

Silvanus said:

I know some people are going to love this but I think it looks terrible. I'm sure it's a great drive and very quick but it just looks big heavy and bloated. Like a middle aged chubby chap in a branded tracksuit.

It looks a bit like Elvis, in the twilight of his career. A fat bloke in a spangly white jumpsuit.

Which given the move to EV’s, is exactly what this is. A fat, overweight pastiche of what used to be very cool and desirable!

[cabbalisticar]

Leins said:

This is all getting a bit silly, but if they can sell them then I suppose crack on BMW

As an aside, I just wish they’d production built the tii concept from 2007



High-revving 4-cyl turbo (c.260hp?) and a fair amount of weight saving through carbon fibre, etc. Styling maybe not to everyone’s tastes admittedly, but for me a lot more cohesive than this New CSL v2.0

I agree that is much more appealing. But you could DIY something like that for relatively little investment.

That said, I'd sooner base it on a 125i with the N52. Simple remap to '30i and oplenty of engine to be getting on with.

[Court_S]

Leins said:

This is all getting a bit silly, but if they can sell them then I suppose crack on BMW

As an aside, I just wish they’d production built the tii concept from 2007



High-revving 4-cyl turbo (c.260hp?) and a fair amount of weight saving through carbon fibre, etc. Styling maybe not to everyone’s tastes admittedly, but for me a lot more cohesive than this New CSL v2.0

Quite like that, but it’d have to have had the N52 for me though.

[Draxindustries1]

Leins said:

This is all getting a bit silly, but if they can sell them then I suppose crack on BMW

As an aside, I just wish they’d production built the tii concept from 2007



High-revving 4-cyl turbo (c.260hp?) and a fair amount of weight saving through carbon fibre, etc. Styling maybe not to everyone’s tastes admittedly, but for me a lot more cohesive than this New CSL v2.0

I bought a 125i coupe in 2010, I really liked it.
The concept tii I'm sure would have sold well.
As ever though as with recent offerings the looks just get more depressingly aggressive and ugly.

[Olivergt]

Leins said:

SS427 Camaro said:

sege said:

Yes, agreed, the E46 CSL is the greatest car ever made. Although EVO magazine thought it lacked steering feel and a Subaru was a better drivers car. So on second thought, I'd get a Subaru instead really.

Seriously Ludicrous that that magazine thought that the E46 M3 CSL lacked “steering feel “
My old 2003 E46 M3 had been fitted with a new CSL rack and omg the steering was utterly Superb !!!

I found the steering quick, but not fantastically communicative. Also slightly offset from the driving position in RHD form, but that never bothered me. It was possibly the only flaw to the car IMO (except that it wasn’t an estate! )

My E30 at the time was the exact opposite in terms of steering

As for the E46 not being special, as intimated by another poster, I would humbly disagree. One of the most special cars to ever come out of Munich for me

Firstly, I am a BMW fan boy, but have to agree on both the E30 and E46 and I only had humble ones.

320i E30 Touring, when it was 5 years old, steering, brakes, all the touch point just felt alive all the time, so much feedback, but gentle and not intrusive a sublime drive.

325i E46 Saloon, once again, steering, brakes, handling, everything telling you what was going.

And that straight 6! It has to be one of the best engines ever built!

I would love an E46 M3, but I fear I have missed the boat on those.

Currently have an E32 7 series, bit of an old barge, but still that wonderful straight six and I'm sure with some gently fettling I can get some more feel in to the steering.

[Leins]

Kawasicki said:

My friend worked on that project… said it was friggin awesome.

It certainly seemed to spark a lot more interest in the motoring press than a mere 4-cyl small coupe had normally any right too, so I suspect there was a lot of special stuff going on in there

Sort of reminded me of what the E36 M3 could have been had BMW gone down the line that was initially rumoured to be a lightweight turbo’d 4-cyl (S14?). But with more carbon