The 2023 BMW M4 CSL is only the third in company history to bear the Coupe Sport Leichtbau (Coupe Sport Lightweight) moniker. It may not seem evident at first, and don?t let the lack of aero appendages or a shouty rear wing fool you: The new M4 CSL is a lighter, harder, and faster M4 Competition RWD, a car that you wouldn?t call slow or lacking in merits with its 503-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.

Setting The Stage

It?s not every day that BMW unveils a CSL car. But when it does, the brand goes all-out in its quest for racing dominance. The first BMW car to wear the CSL badge was the 3.0 CSL, a homologation special unveiled in 1972 that won numerous European racing championships between 1973 and 1979. BMW produced less than 1,300 units, and it would cost you upwards of $200,000 to add one to your garage.
The second CSL arrived in 2003, and it?s possibly the best-driving and rarest E46 3 Series of all time. We?re referring to the mystical M3 CSL and its yummy 3.0-liter naturally-aspirated inline-six with 360 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque. If you find one, grab it as quick as you can. BMW only made 1,358 examples of the M3 CSL.

2023 BMW M4 CSL: More Power & Speed

It so happens that 2022 is the 50th anniversary of BMW?s high-performance M division. Established in 1972 to facilitate BMW?s participation in professional motorsports, the M badge has racing in its genes, and the 2023 M4 CSL is a worthy torchbearer. Under the hood is a rec...