2023 BMW M4 CSL Hits the Dyno, Makes 582.3 Horsepower at the Crankshaft

United Kingdom-based Evolve Automotive recorded 582.3 horsepower and 517.0 pound-feet of torque, which means 590.3 ps and 700.9 Nm in the metric system. Mighty impressive for a 3.0-liter engine with six cylinders, no doubt! According to BMW, the M4 CSL produces a guaranteed 550 ps (543 horsepower) and 650 Nm (479 pound-feet).

For reference, the M4 Competition with rear-wheel drive and the very same ZF-supplied automatic transmission as the M4 CSL offers 510 ps (503 horsepower) and 650 Nm (479 pound-feet) of twist. Be that as it may, Imran Arshad from Evolve Automotive begs to differ. The British company's Dyno Dynamics dynamometer indicates that an M3 Competition RWD – essentially a more practical M4 Competition RWD – packs 529.6 horsepower (536.9 ps) and 517.6 pound-feet (701.7 Nm) of torque.

Simply put, BMW sandbags its output ratings. The B58 from which the M division created the S58 is underrated as well. Be it the 40i or the Supra, the B58 develops more power than advertised. Better still, BMW offers a six-cylinder as opposed to four in Merc's case. From the least exciting version of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class to the no-nonsense AMG C 63 S E PERFORMANCE, the rival automaker decided that four cylinders would have to suffice.

Another offensive thing about Merc is that certain AMG models don't even have AMG engines. The CLE 53 comes to mind, for it features an "AMG-enhanced" inline-six. The M256 in question launched in 2017 with the 222-series S 450. Other applications include the 222-series S 500 and the 43 version of the GT 4-Door Coupe. Adding to the confusion, the GT 43 Coupe has an inline-four.

As opposed to Mercedes, which intends to phase out internal combustion passenger vehicles by 2030 in markets where conditions allow for it, BMW famously pointed out that many customers prefer internal combustion. BMW further pointed out that – realistically speaking – many countries won't be ready for the mass adoption of EVs by 2030 (or 2035 if you live in the European Union).

Back in January 2022, development boss Frank Weber went on record to confirm that BMW is developing a new generation of six- and eight-cylinder powerplants. The S68 is believed to be one of those engines, a 4.4-liter V8 that replaces both the S63 and N63 in the automaker's engine lineup.

Despite the similar displacement, the S68 is different in many respects from its predecessor. Compliant with Euro 7 regulations (effective July 2025), the S68 launched for the 2023 model year in the X7 M60i, which isn't a bonafide M, but an M Performance. Unfortunately, the X7 M isn't likely to happen due to the arrival of the XM for the 2023 model year.

Another non-M application of the S68 engine is the 760i xDrive, which isn't sold in Europe due to emission regulations. In the Old Continent, a plug-in sixer will have to make do in the form of the M760e xDrive, which features the B58 inline-six.