2023 BMW M4 CSL Coupe

　　

2023 BMW M4 CSL Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　BMW's M division turns 50 years old in 2023, and to celebrate, the M-badged models wear special emblems commemorating five decades of tweaked and tuned Bimmers. Oh, and there's this little gem here, the 2023 BMW M4 CSL.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 BMW M4 CSL 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$247/mo  for M4 CSL Base

　　M4 CSL Base

　　2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $139,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The CSL nomenclature stands for Competition, Sport, Lightweight, and all 1,000 examples of the M4 CSL serve as a rolling billboard for those traits. Drawing influence from the M4 GT3 racer, the M4 CSL is made for track driving, and the automaker says it posted a 7:20.2 lap time around the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. That's a new record for a production-spec BMW.

　　To achieve that feat, BMW massaged the M4's twin-turbo inline-six to make 543 horsepower, a 40-horse gain over the M4 Competition. According to BMW, acceleration to 60 mph takes 3.6 seconds and the M4 CSL's top speed is an electronically limited 191 mph.

　　Naturally, the limited-production M4 CSL is about more than just its powertrain. From its exclusive forged light-alloy wheels and standard M carbon-ceramic brakes to its carbon-fiber reinforced plastic hood, roof and trunklid, the CSL is about weight reduction, a lower center of gravity, and the necessary handling modifications to make it a dominant force on the track. BMW even removed the back seat and bolted in standard M Carbon front buckets with fixed backrests that manually adjust fore and aft, and that's it. The result is a 240-pound weight loss, slimming the M4 CSL to a 3,640-pound curb weight.

　　What else can you get if you missed your chance to grab one of the 1,000 M4 CSLs built for all of BMW's global markets? Well, you might as well grab a 2023 M4 Competition. At least it will have the fancy "BMW 50 Years" emblems, if not the rest of the CSL's deliciousness.

　　

Which M4 CSL does zzdcar recommend?

As a wise preschool teacher once said: "You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit." With that in mind, BMW sells the M4 CSL in a single level of specification and in three paint colors. We're partial to the optional Frozen Brooklyn Gray hue, and you can also get available heated, power-adjustable M Carbon bucket seats if you plan to drive the car somewhere other than a racetrack.

　　

BMW M4 CSL models

The 2023 BMW M4 CSL is a lightweight and more powerful version of the M4 Competition coupe. It has a twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine (543 horsepower, 479 lb-ft of torque) and uses an eight-speed performance automatic transmission to drive the rear wheels. Keep reading for a full breakdown of the CSL's performance upgrades and features.

　　Highlights of the M4 CSL's standard performance features include:

　　Forged light-alloy cross-spoke wheels in a matte black finish (19 inches front, 20 inches rear) Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires M Sport differential (fully variable locking rear differential improves traction, stability and cornering capability) M carbon-ceramic brakes (provides better resistance to brake fade during high-performance driving) Two driver-selected brake pedal feel settings Adaptive M suspension with a lower ride height (helps improve ride comfort and handling stability) Cast aluminum front strut suspension brace Variable-ratio M steering Active exhaust system with a titanium silencer and quad exhaust outlets M sound control button to alter the exhaust note Revised traction and stability control systemsThe M4 CSL also includes:

　　BMW laserlight headlights (laser-based headlights that produce an exceptionally bright and white beam for improved road illumination and driver visibility) Hands-free keyless entry Ambient interior lighting Carbon-fiber trim Automatic climate control M Carbon bucket seats with manual fore and aft adjustment Black premium leather upholstery with red Alcantara synthetic suede inserts Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with a red center marker Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic shift paddles and center consoleStandard technology on the M4 CSL includes:

　　Digital instrument panel Head-up display 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Navigation system Wireless smartphone charging Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking) Active Driving Assistant Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Blind-spot warning (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot) BMW offers a handful of options for the M4 CSL:

　　Black wheels Run-flat performance tires Frozen Brooklyn Gray paint CSL graphic removal Heated, power-adjustable M Carbon bucket seats

　　zzdcar Latest BMW M4 CSL News

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