The 2025 BMW M4 CS is a More Sensible CSL, but Does it Hit the Spot? | Car Scoops

This is BMW’s all-new M4 CS, a model intended to sit above the standard M4 and M4 Competition and below the limited-edition 2022 CSL. The Bavarian car manufacturer wants to underline the connection between the M4 CS and an intense, “emotional” driving experience and describes the CS as having a distinctive character.

Aside from the character, however, the CS feels very familiar in many areas. Like the CSL, it has the same 543 hp engine as the M3 CS. Like the CSL, it also has all-wheel drive and places great value on weight reduction. Its appearance even mirrors that of the CSL. So what really makes it different?

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Just like the CSL, BMW is talking a lot about weight savings and track orientation with the M4 CS – but if the CSL went anorexic, the CS has opted for something more sustainable, like ditching the pesky carbs.

The 2025 BMW M4 CS features a carbon roof, hood, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser and spoiler. It also features forged alloy M alloy wheels, which can be fitted with track tires or ‘ultra track’ tires as a no-cost option.

Compared to the CSL, however, the carbon bucket seats with non-adjustable backrest and the carbon trunk lid are missing. With the CS you can also keep the rear seats and soundproofing. You get the M Carbon bucket seats, which might be offered by CSL owners who aren’t interested in increasing their chiropractor’s bottom line.

The result is that the BMW M4 CS saves 45 lbs (20 kg) compared to the M4 Competition Coupe with xDrive, while the M4 CSL saved a whopping 240 lbs (108 kg) through the crash diet.

Power bump

The BMW M4 CS also receives a slight increase in performance as it has the same engine power as the M3 CS. And yes, that’s the same as the M4 CSL, in case anyone’s counting.

Under the hood is the S58 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with 543 hp (550 hp / 405 kW) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm). That’s an increase of 20 hp (20 hp / 15 kW) over the 2025 BMW M4 Competition Coupe. Admittedly, this power boost isn’t as impressive as it was a year ago, considering the 2025 M4 recently received a facelift that added another 20 HP (20 HP / 15 kW).

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Essentially the engine is the same as in the standard M4. However, the CS’s engine receives more boost and the associated tuning, resulting in higher performance. On the road, that means a 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 302 km/h.

You also get an active exhaust whose tone changes depending on the driving mode selected. If you want to wake the dead, you can choose between the “Sport” and “Sport+” modes to open the flaps and make the twin exhaust system and the titanium rear silencer really sound.

Although this is an xDrive – BMW says all-wheel drive – the Bavarian company, known for its rear-wheel drive chassis, goes to great lengths to emphasize that this is still a rear-biased configuration. As with other xDrive M vehicles, you can completely disengage the front drive wheels for some drifting antics. However, you’ll likely achieve the fastest times with the M4 CS by taking advantage of the electronic four-wheel drive control system, which sends power to the wheels that need it most.

No manual, just automatic

All power comes from an eight-speed automatic transmission. There are no manual options here. You get a button on the gear selector that allows you to choose between three different shifting characteristics – presumably from Comfort to Bucking Bronco. Speaking of stiff shifts, there are also “unique engine mounts” that have been stiffened to create a “rigid connection between the engine and the vehicle structure” – that sounds like a way to get more NVH into the cabin, but we assume that this will also have the effect of increasing the connection to the machine.

It probably feels better with the M4 CS’s exclusive suspension tuning. As for the electronic wizardry, the Adaptive M suspension features an M4 CS-specific setup, as does the electromechanical M Servotronic variable-ratio steering and integrated braking system. These good old physical parameters have also been optimized with CS-specific camber settings, dampers, additional springs and stabilizers.

A familiar grill

It’s hard to see the similarities between the new M4 CS and the limited-edition 1,000-unit BMW CSL, but they keep coming through, especially when you look at one of the most controversial elements of the car’s design: the grille.

Yes, although we already knew that the nostril-like design would remain, BMW seems to have carried over the most distinctive part of the CSL to the CS – the weight-saving grille. It is, of course, lighter because it contains fewer elements. There is one change: there is an M4 CS emblem on the left muzzle. Still, we’d bet some people who opted for the ultra-exclusive CSL will be a little annoyed that the CS looks so similar – even an expert would be seen squinting at this point to recognize external differences between the two.

The M4 CS will be available in four colors. In the standard range you get either Brooklyn Gray metallic or Black Sapphire metallic and in the BMW Individual selection you can opt for Riviera Blue or Frozen Isle of Man Green metallic.

Meanwhile, there are channels in the hood that reveal some exposed carbon. Many of the CFRP parts, including the roof, also remain unpainted. Combined with black side skirts, gills and exhaust tips, it effectively creates a contrasting two-tone exterior. The wheels are also available in matte black or, if you want some variety, matte gold bronze.

See also: The facelift of the BMW M4 2025 brings new lights and 20 hp more for the competition xDrive

Meanwhile, the headlight elements, formerly known as the company’s iconic halos (and now sort of upside-down L-shaped boomerang things), glow yellow in homage to the GT race cars. At the rear, the same fancy LED laser diode lights return.

Curved display and iDrive 8

The interior is based on BMW’s curved display structure with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen in the center of the dashboard. Like the rest of the model range, updated for MY 2025, the M4 CS features BMW iDrive 8.5, but with M-specific graphics. Also worth noting is that iDrive 8.5 reduces the number of physical buttons in the cockpit and integrates more functionality into the touchscreens.

There are also the tricky but fun additions of a drift analyzer and lap timer. At the same time, individual settings can be saved using the M buttons on the steering wheel, including transmission settings, DSC and – what is perhaps most useful in everyday life – whether the automatic start/stop system should be activated.

Elsewhere in the interior you will find numerous “CS” lettering as well as seat belts with M tricolor stitching, interior trim strips in carbon fiber and an anthracite-colored headliner. The above-mentioned M carbon bucket seats are covered with Merino leather in the color black/red with striking contrasting stitching. They feature full electrical adjustability, heated seats and illuminated M4 CS logos in the headrests.

Prices and availability

The 2025 M4 CS will enter production at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in July 2024, while it will make its debut in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in Laguna Seca, USA, on Friday, May 10, and in Europe at the 6-hour race The World Endurance Car race at Spa-Francorchamps celebrates its world premiere.

The order books will be opened at the end of May. Base MSRP is $123,500 plus $1,175 S&H.

To put that in perspective, the 2025MY BMW M4 starts at $79,100 for the base coupe, plus a $995 destination charge. A more apt comparison, however, would be the similarly equipped 2025 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Coupe with all-wheel drive, which costs $88,300 (plus a $995 destination charge). Overall, this represents a significant premium for the CS and isn’t far off the 2022 M4 CSL’s price of $139,900.

Does the 2025 BMW M4 CS justify a premium of over $35,000 over the regular Competition Coupe? Share your thoughts with us below.