Well, so much less if we’re talking about the weight of the M5 CS.
In the last 12 months, BMW has made some pretty controversial moves, but it looks like things may be changing. BMW M just revealed a new, hardcore performance variant of the M5 called the BMW M5 CS. This limited edition model takes the same successful formula of the M5, but adds a dash of retro styling cues and cuts a lot of weight.
Functional Improvements
Let’s start with the changes that are performance-related.
The 4.4L Twin Turbo V8 is now even more powerful than ever with 635hp, making this the most powerful car ever produced by BMW M. For additional context, the same engine in the standard M5 and M5 Competition puts out 600hp and 625hp respectively. Torque is unchanged at 750Nm and you still get the very sophisticated 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with M xDrive all-wheel drive (which can send 100% of the power to the rear wheels). The BMW M5 CS sprints from 0 – 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, from 0 – 200 km/h in 10.3 seconds. Top speed is an electronically governed 305 km/h.
Besides the increase in power, BMW M has also reduced weight by a significant degree. 70kg have been shed by employing carbon fibre throughout the vehicle. They’ve also swapped out the seats for carbon fibre bucket seats covered partly in Merino leather. Yes, even the rear seats are now carbon buckets, meaning seating capacity is down to just 4. That makes the M5 CS a little less practical, but it also really keeps weight down.
A lot of the aero elements are also finished in carbon fibre, including the wing mirrors, front splitter and rear diffuser.
BMW M have also retuned the bearing springs at the front and rear, also refining the damper control.
Our Favourite Part
While it’s not a 3.0 CSL Homage brought to life fans of old-school BMWs have something to enjoy here. For the first time, the light tubes can glow yellow instead of white.
This feature can be set whether the headlights are set to low beam, high beam or just when the Welcome Lights are on. This is a throwback to BMW’s GT racing cars. The video below highlights that.
Other changes
The BMW M5 CS also brings a number of aesthetic upgrades:
- exclusive matt paint finishes: Frozen Brands Hatch Grey metallic, Frozen Deep Green metallic
- Pirelli P Zero Corsa track tyres
- Stainless steel exhaust tips
- Red M carbon ceramic brake callipers
- grille, rims and exterior highlights in Gold Bronze
- carbon fibre hood air vents
- carbon fibre wing mirror caps
- carbon fibre rear spoiler
Here’s the press release with more.
PRESS RELEASE
- A fixed lightweight cover on the centre console replaces the usual armrest with opening lid. Its black Merino leather is complemented by red double stitching. The colour red is used again for the “CS” badging on the instrument panel and between the bucket-style seats in the rear.
- The BMW kidney grille surround on the BMW M5 CS, the “M5 CS” badges on the kidney grille, the M gills on the front wings and the boot lid are finished in the bold colour shade Goldbronze, as are the 20-inch M forged wheels in Y-spoke design (front: 9.5 J x 20, rear: 10.5 J x 20). The door sill finishers come with illuminated “M5 CS” badges.
- The L-shaped light tubes of the BMW Laser headlights illuminate yellow instead of white when low beam, high beam or the Welcome Light is switched on, bringing successful GT racing cars to mind.
- The bonnet, front splitter, exterior mirror caps, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, M Power engine compartment cover and intake silencer are made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Some elements feature exposed carbon fibre.
- Standard specification for the M5 CS includes its stainless-steel sports exhaust system with four unadorned tailpipes and the
M Carbon ceramic brakes, whose callipers are painted in Red as standard or Gold as an option. - Available alongside the Brands Hatch Grey metallic paint shade are the exclusive BMW Individual matt paint finishes Frozen Brands Hatch Grey metallic and Frozen Deep Green metallic.
- The market launch of the new BMW M5 CS will get underway in spring 2021; in Germany it will be priced at 180,400 euros.
