First Look: The BMW M5 CS Up Close
The BMW M5 CS is the latest and greatest machine to come out of the depths of the M department. And thanks to BMW BeLux, here’s your first look up close.
The BMW M5 CS was released earlier this year and it’s ramping up to be the fastest, most powerful road-legal car the brand has ever produced so let’s dive a bit deeper into this mean machine.
The fourth and latest addition to the CS-family (short for Competition Sport) is based on the M5 Competition already available but turned up to 11.
It’s powered by the same 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 but puts out 635 hp over the 625 hp from the Competition making this the most powerful M car in history. Power gets sent through the 8-speed transmission and into the M xDrive which can be switched to pure rear-wheel drive at the touch of a button.
Thanks to this, the M5 CS sprints to 100 in 3 seconds flat and 7,3 seconds later it’s already hitting 200 onto a top speed of 305 kmh which is actually electronically limited believe it or not.
So power is increased but they didn’t stop there. The M5 CS has lost 70 kgs thanks to the use of clever lightweight design. The hood with vents to extract hot air is made from carbon fiber. As are the seats, they are borrowed from the new M3 and M4. They look stunning, save weight and keep you in very well. Just mind the high side support whilst getting in.
But not only the seats in the front were changed. The full rear bench was dropped for 2 separate bucket seats to keep passengers in place when skidding around.
Further weight reduction comes from various carbon fiber components and a lighter fixed center console cover.
To adjust the car to the power increase and lost weight, the M5 CS’s bearing springs have been retuned and the damper control has been refined on both front and rear axle.
Finally there are motorsports references all around the car: the Mugello red stitching and the embossed Nurburgring track layout in the headrests.
But the coolest part is the yellow daytime running lights. These are a reference to the lights on GTE racing cars which are mandated to have yellow lights. This gives the drivers visual indications during nighttime racing if a faster car is approaching since Prototype racers are required to use white lights.
And as the pictures have shown, the BMW M5 CS is a proper beast. Production is starting next month so hopefully we’ll see some on the road soon.
Thanks again to BMW BeLux for the invite!
