2025 BMW M4 CS Is A More Sensible CSL, But Does It Hit The Sweet Spot?

This is BMW’s all-new M4 CS, a model designed to sit above the standard M4 and M4 Competition, and below the 2022 limited-edition CSL. The Bavarian carmaker wants to underscore the connection between the M4 CS and an intense, ’emotional’ driving experience, describing the CS as possessing a distinctive character.

However, setting character aside, the CS sounds very familiar in many areas. Like the CSL, it features the same 543 hp powerplant found in the M3 CS. It also incorporates all-wheel drive—unlike the rear-wheel drive CSL—and prioritizes weight reduction. Its appearance even mirrors that of the CSL. So, what really makes it different?

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Just as they did with the CSL, BMW talks a lot about weight savings and track focus with the M4 CS — but if the CSL became anorexic, the CS has chosen to go on something a little more sustainable, like cutting out those 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 has light-alloy forged M alloy wheels, which can be equipped with track tires or “ultra-track” tires, both as a no-cost option.

However, compared to the CSL, you miss out on the non-adjustable-backrest carbon bucket seats and carbon fiber trunk lid. With the CS, you also get to keep the rear seats and sound insulation. You do get the M Carbon bucket seats that could be spec’d by CSL owners not interested in inflating the bottom line of their chiropractor.

The result is that the BMW M4 CS shaves 45 lbs (20 kg) compared to the M4 Competition Coupe with xDrive, whereas the M4 CSL’s crash diet lost it a whopping 240 lbs (108 kg).

Power Bump

The BMW M4 CS also gets a modest power bump, with it sharing the same engine output of the M3 CS. And yes, that’s the same as the M4 CSL if anyone is keeping score.

Under the hood is the S58 3.0-liter straight-six turbocharged engine with 543 hp (550 PS / 405 kW) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm). That’s an increase of 20 hp (20 PS / 15 kW) over the 2025 BMW M4 Competition Coupe. Granted, that bump in power isn’t as impressive as it would have been a year ago, given the recent 2025 M4’s facelift, which brought with it another 20 hp (20 PS / 15 kW).

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Essentially, the engine is the same as that found in the standard M4. However, the CS’s motor gets more boost and the associated tuning, resulting in increased power. On the road, that translates to a 0–60 mph (0–100 km/h) time of 3.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 188 mph (302 km/h).

You get an active exhaust, too, with the note changing according to which drive mode you select. Want to wake the dead, and you can select either Sport or Sport+ modes to open up the flaps, letting the dual-branch exhaust system and titanium rear silencer really sing.

While this is an xDrive — BMW-speak for all-wheel drive — the Bavarian company, famed for its rear-drive chassis, goes to great lengths to emphasize how this is still a rear-biased setup. As with other xDrive M cars, you can choose to decouple the front drive wheels altogether for some drifty antics, although you’ll probably get the fastest times out of M4 CS by taking advantage of the electronic all-wheel drive control that sends power to the wheels that need it most.

No Manual, Only Automatic

All that power is handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission. No manual options here. You get a button on the gear selector that lets you choose from one of three different shift characteristics — presumably ranging from comfort to bucking bronco. Speaking of stiff shifts, there are also “unique engine mounts” that have been stiffened to provide a “rigid connection between the engine and the vehicle’s structure” — that sounds like a way of introducing more NVH into the cabin, but we guess it will have the effect of increasing the connection to the machine too.

It probably feels better with the M4 CS’s exclusive chassis tuning. On the electronic wizardry side of things, the Adaptive M suspension has a setup specific to the M4 CS, as do the electromechanical M Servotronic steering with variable ratio and the integrated braking system. Those good-old physical parameters have been tweaked, too, with CS-specific wheel camber settings, dampers, auxiliary springs, and anti-roll bars.

A Familiar Grille

It’s hard to stop drawing similarities between the new M4 CS and the limited-to-1000 BMW CSL, but they keep presenting themselves, particularly when you look at one of the more divisive elements of the car’s design: the grille.

Yep, while we already knew the nostril-like design was here to stay, BMW seems to have carried over the most distinctive part of the CSL to the CS — the weight-saving grille. It’s lighter because it features fewer elements, of course. There is one change — there’s an M4 CS badge on the left snout. Still, we’d wager that a few people who plumped to get the uber-exclusive CSL will be a little miffed that the CS looks this similar — even an expert would be seen squinting to tell the external differences between the two at this point.

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

Meanwhile, within the hood, you get channels showcasing some exposed carbon goodness. Also left unpainted are many of the CFRP bits, including the roof. Combined with black side skirts, gills, and exhaust tips, you effectively get a contrasting two-tone-ish exterior. Wheels can also be had in matte black or, if you want to change things up, matte Gold Bronze.

See Also: 2025 BMW M4 Facelift Brings New Lights And 20HP Boost For Competition xDrive

Meanwhile, the headlight elements, formerly known as the company’s iconic halos (and are now some kind of upside-down-L-shaped boomerang things), light up in yellow as a tribute to the GT race cars. At the rear, the same trippy LED laser diode lights make their return.

Curved Display And iDrive 8

The interior sticks with BMW’s curved display setup, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen positioned in the center of the dashboard. Like the rest of the range that was updated for 2025 MY, the M4 CS runs BMW iDrive 8.5, but with M-specific graphics. Also of note is that iDrive 8.5 cuts down on the number of physical buttons in the cockpit, integrating more functionality into the touchscreens.

There are also the gimmicky but fun additions of a drift analyzer and lap timer. At the same time, the M buttons on the steering wheel can store individual setups, including gearbox settings, DSC, and — perhaps the most useful in a day-to-day capacity — whether you want automatic start/stop to be active.

Elsewhere in the interior, you’ll find plenty of “CS” lettering, as well as seat belts with M-tricolor stitching, interior trim strips in Carbon Fiber, and an Anthracite-colored headliner. Those aforementioned M Carbon bucket seats are finished in Merino leather in a Black/Red color scheme with distinctive contrast stitching. They get full power adjustability, seat heating, and illuminated M4 CS logos in the headrests.

Pricing And Availability

The 2025 M4 CS will go into production at BMW’s Dingolfing plant in July 2024, while it will make its world debut on Friday the 10th of May at both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Laguna Seca, US, and in Europe at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps World Endurance Car race.

Order books will open at the end of May. The base MSRP is $123,500 plus $1,175 for destination and handling.

To put that into perspective, the 2025MY of the BMW M4 starts at $79,100 for the base coupe, not including a $995 destination fee. A more apt comparison, however, would be with the similarly equipped all-wheel drive 2025 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Coupe, which costs $88,300 (plus a $995 destination fee). Altogether, that represents a significant premium for the CS, positioning it not far from the 2022 M4 CSL’s price tag of $139,900.

Does the 2025 BMW M4 CS warrant a $35,000+ premium over the regular Competition Coupe? Let us know your thoughts below.