BMW 3.0 CSL: The Most Exclusive Bimmer Yet Celebrates 50 Years Of M Division

• The BMW 3.0 CSL is limited to 50 units.

• Gets a 3-litre twin-turbo straight six petrol engine producing 556PS and 550Nm.

• Takes styling cues from the original 3.0 CSL from the 1970s.

• Gets revised steering and suspension setup for battery cornering dynamics.

• Sports a ton of carbon fibre, both on the outside and inside. 

The CSL moniker is a big deal for BMW. Short for Coupé Sport Leichtbau in German, or Coupé Sport Lightweight in English, the moniker has only ever been used thrice before in BMW’s history. This time, it marks the ending of the Golden jubilee year of BMW's performance division – BMW M GmbH, and comes stuck on the back of a standard M4 CSL.

What is it?

Under the flared rear fenders, roof spoiler and an aggressive bonnet is a standard M4 CSL, but here, it is called the BMW 3.0 CSL. Limited to only 50 units, it pays homage to the original M car that started all the hooliganism for the Bavarians. Fittingly, it does so with the same hand-applied livery and takes a lot of design cues from the original ‘70s car.

The rear wing resembles the shape of the original car, which was the reason behind its ‘batmobile’ nickname. A cool touch! The front kidney grille, wider wheel arches, and the two circular intakes on the lower front bumper are all cues reminiscent of the original car.

What’s what?

Okay, so the headlining stats first – the most powerful straight-six petrol engine in a road-legal BMW yet that displaces 3 litres (and makes 556PS to be precise), twin-turbocharged, manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. 

Although it's lower on torque (550Nm) than the M4 CSL, it is still the perfect recipe for some tyre-shredding antics. BMW’s Active M Differential splits the power between the wheels as required and offers aids for controlled drifts. 

The suspension and steering setups have been given a rework although those settings are adjustable according to the driver’s wants and needs, just like any M car.

The use of carbon is extensive to say the least. It can be found pretty much everywhere as the majority of the body components are carbon including the roof, diffuser, spoiler, bonnet, boot lid, and front and rear bumpers. Even the seats on the inside are carbon bucket seats.  

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The BMW 3.0 CSL has the right pedigree to be coined as one of the classics and most important M cars in the time to come. Only 50 units will see the light of day and BMW says production will be completed over the course of three months. It is one of the many M cars that came out this year, including the new generation M2, M4 CSL and XM and if these are anything to go by, we are super stoked for what’s in store for next year.