ON THE ROAD – IAN LYNAS PREVIEWS THE NEW BMW M4 CS

The M cars from BMW have built up a strong fanbase down the years; cars which are equally at home or on the race circuit at a track day.

The latest impending arrival is the new M4 CS which celebrates racing passion with lightweight design elements for everyday driving comfort. Production will start in July at the BMW Group Plant Dingolfing and first deliveries will arrive this autumn. Certainly the new member to the M family will in no way be lacking in performance, with an increased engine output of 550bhp, model-specific chassis tuning and minimised weight helped by numerous components made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic. The priority clearly with this newcomer is performance and the characteristics of the six-cylinder in-line engine allied with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and M xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive infuse with dynamic poise and assurance. No surprise, instantaneous power delivery and optimised traction enable acceleration of rest to100kph (62 mph) in just 3.4 seconds.

In testing at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit which is the ultimate barometer for all BMW M cars, the new M4 CS recorded an official time of 7 min. 21.989 sec. for the full 20.832-kilometre (12.943-mile) lap; very impressive for a car that you could even take to do the weekly shopping. Racing technology played a major role in creating this new car; the foundations for the extraordinary potential of the six-cylinder in-line engine. Representing a 20bhp increase from the M4 Competition Coupé with M xDrive, the power boost was achieved through targeted revisions to the engine’s M TwinPower turbo technology and required no concessions in stability or durability. The adjustments focused on raising the maximum charge pressure of the two mono-scroll turbochargers to 2.1 bar and making model-specific tweaks to the engine management. The engine’s power delivery is accompanied by an emotionally stirring soundtrack generated by the dual-branch exhaust system, which features electrically controlled flaps, a titanium rear silencer with weight-minimising design and in customary M fashion two pairs of tailpipes painted in matt black.

The engine’s acoustic presence adjusts to the powertrain setting selected via the M Setup menu. In Sport and Sport+ modes, the engine note gains unmissable racing car undertones, injecting aural drama during gear changes and the accompanying adjustments in rev speed. The engine’s drive torque is relayed to all four wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, operated using either the M-specific gear selector lever on the centre console or the carbon-fibre shift paddles on the steering wheel. The Drivelogic button integrated into the selector lever allows you to alter the transmission’s shift characteristics as desired, with a choice of settings available: one comfort-oriented, one for sports performance and one optimised specifically for track use. The M xDrive system’s rear-wheel bias and the way it teams up with the Active M diff at the rear axle whose operation is also fully variable which adds to the signature M feeling when accelerating or powering through corners. Work on the chassis technology has been tuned precisely to the performance characteristics of the engine, the overall vehicle concept, and its weight distribution. Stopping power is given priority and the M4 CS is equipped as standard with M Compound brakes with callipers painted in a choice of red or black while the callipers for the optional M Carbon ceramic brakes can be specified in a red or matt gold painted finish. Standard fitment, forged M light-alloy wheels in an exclusive V-spoke design, available in either in matt gold bronze or matt black. The lightweight wheels (19 inch at the front axle and 20 inch at the rear) are fitted as standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres or optionally with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R, to maximise the performance experience on track. Customers intending to use the car for day-to-day driving can select high-performance tyres in the same size as a no-cost option. Moving to the interior, sporty of course, the focus is solely on delivering an exhilarating driving experience, by blending its distinct racing aura with comfort features for everyday driving. The standard M Alcantara steering wheel in three-spoke design with a flat-bottomed rim provides a secure grip for dynamic driving manoeuvres and impressive comfort on longer journeys. The M Carbon bucket seats are upholstered in Merino leather and come in an exclusive design with a black/red colour scheme and distinctive contrast stitching and bi-colour finish is carried over into the rear compartment.

The latest version of the iDrive display and control/operation system based on BMW Operating System 8.5 provides intuitive control of numerous vehicle functions and digital services and the curved features M-specific readouts and is angled towards you, helping to focus on the road ahead. The fully digital screen grouping is formed by a 12.3 inch information display behind the steering wheel and a control display with a screen diagonal of 14.9 inches. The familiar M Shift Lights appear at the top of the information display, while the driving stability system, M xDrive and traction control modes are all indicated in the lower area. Special widgets containing information on the current vehicle setup, as well as tyre pressures and temperature can be added to the control display’s home screen. There are a select choice of comfort features and driver assistance systems. Comfort Access, an alarm system, two-zone automatic climate control, the Harman Kardon surround sound system, Park Distance Control, Parking Assistant, Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and the Speed Limit Info system are all included as standard, while automatic boot lid operation and the Driving Assistant system can be added as options.

Summing up, this is  a worthy addition to a long line of M cars which began with the M1, which was  revealed at the Paris Motor Show back in 1978.

Ian Lynas