BMW’s M division spent this year celebrating its 50th birthday with special cars such as the 3.0 CSL and the long-awaited M3 Touring. While the celebratory year is nearly over, the automaker is not taking a break, and a report has allegedly revealed key details regarding the M3 CS, as per Yahoo News.
The next evolution of the current-generation M3 will enter production in March of next year, according to documents discovered by the enthusiast forum Bimmerpost.
BMW M3 CS
Positioned above the M3, the CS will provide a 543-horsepower evolution of the standard car’s twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter straight-six engine, and it would come standard with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
One interesting aspect that remains in the air is the transmission: the leaked documents offer plenty of technical details but show a question mark in the transmission field.
BMW M3
For comparison, the twin-turbo straight-six develops 473 horsepower in the base M3. It spins the rear wheels and is available with a six-speed manual transmission. Horsepower increases to 503 in the automatic-only Competition, which is provided with rear- or all-wheel-drive.
Although the leaked documents seem legit, nothing is certain at this stage, and the automaker has not released official details about the M3 CS.
Report says CS to be automatic and all-wheel drive
However, an unverified report claims that the CS would be automatic- and all-wheel-drive only, though the similar M4 CSL is provided with rear-wheel-drive.
Another interesting point is how much the M3 CS would weigh. The previously mentioned CSL (L: lightweight model) weighs around 240 pounds (108 kg) less than a regular-production M4. The company may decide not to put the M3 on such an extreme diet.
It is expected that the automaker will unveil the super-sedan in the upcoming weeks, possibly with a six-digit price tag, and production may strictly be limited.