2023 BMW M4 CSL Photos, engines & full specs

BMW had a long history of producing lightweight vehicles based on its performance models, and the 2022 M4 CSL (Competition Sport Lightweight) came as a confirmation of that.

The new version came as a 2023 model year to celebrate the mighty E9 CSL that competed in 1973 in the European Touring Car Championship. This hard-core version was built with performance in mind, and it was fine-tuned on the Nurburgring race track in Germany. While the automaker used the CS letters for many vehicles, there were only two that sported all three letters: the aforementioned E9 and the 2004 M3 CSL. But in 2022, it added a third member to this exclusive club: the M4 CSL, which was produced in just 1000 units.

BMW managed to shed 240 lbs (110 kg) from the weight of the M4 Competition, and that was not an easy task. On the outside, it used a carbon-fiber hood adorned with black, unpainted vents. Its roof and trunk lid were made from CFRP (carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic), and the bumpers also included many areas from the same material. Last but not least, the CSL also sported a ducktail on the rear deck.

Inside, the automaker installed manual carbon-fiber sport seats that were 53 lbs (24 kg) lighter than those installed in the regular M4. In addition, there were no rear seats or seatbelts. But, despite using thinner sound-deadening materials, it still featured an infotainment system with speakers so drivers could play their favorite music while thrashing the car around a track.

Under the hood, the M4 CSL received an improved inline-six, 3.0-liter turbocharged engine that sent its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.