BMW M has officially revealed the M5 CS, which not only represents the pinnacle of its iconic super sedan, but is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating car the brand has ever produced… Update: One of the first units has touched down in SA and we have pricing.

Update:

Towards the end of February 2022, one of the first BMW M5 CS units landed on SA shores, with BMW Bedfordview’s dealer principalshowcasing the newcomer on hisInstagram page. The price? A cool R3.84 million.

As Cars.co.za reported recently, the boss of the Bavarian marque’s performance division, Markus Flasch, partially revealed the M5 CS on Instagram late last year, when he highlighted the sedan’s characteristic brushed gold-bronze grille surround, side strakes and forged alloy wheels, plus he divulged a few tantalising details about the (then upcoming) super sedan.

The M5 CS has been fitted with the upgraded suspension from the M8 Gran Coupe Competition.

So, we had a good idea of what the newcomer would look like, knew that its engine would produce 467 kW, which is marginally higher than the M5 Competition’s 460 kW, as well as the fact the Clubsport would be 70 kg lighter than its sibling by virtue of incorporating numerous lightweight parts.

Those details have now all been confirmed, but the claimed performance figures of the super sedan, which is powered by a 750-Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission, is nonetheless stupefying. BMW claims the M5 CS can bolt from standstill to 100 kph in 3 sec dead,from 0 to 200 kph in 10.4 sec and go on to an (electronically-limited!) top speed of 305 kph.

BMW has applied a number of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic panels to its ultimate super sedan.

The attention to detail in the newcomer is also pretty astonishing. Yes, the engine produces only 17 kW more than the M5 Competition (467 kW at 6 000 rpm and 750 Nm of torque from 1 800 to 5 950 rpm), but BMW has fitted the motor with a redesigned oil pan with an additional sump and indirect charge-air cooling, plus stiffer engine mountings (with spring ratings of 900N per mm, Autocar reports).

Over and above a recalibration of the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the M5 CS’ suspension tuning is more focused than that of its M5 Competition sibling. For one, the newcomer’s shock absorbers, which were developed forthe M8 Gran CoupeCompetition, trim the super sedan’s ride height by 7 mm and are said to reduce fluctuations in wheel loads. In combination with new spring bearings for the damper control measures, the M5 CS is evidently optimised for sharper on-the-limit handling (no wonder it has Nurburgring silhouettes in its front-seat headrests, but more about later…).

BMW’s reworked the M5 CS’ front and rear suspension geometry, while 20-inch P Zero rubber help it to hug the road.

The gold-bronze-finished 20-inch alloys are shod with 275/35 front and 285/35 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres and, if you look through their spokes, you’ll notice the standard M carbon-ceramic braking system. It comprises 6-piston fixed red calipers (fore) and single-piston floating calipers (aft), plusBMW claims it weighs 23 kg less than the steel-disc setup that features on the M5 Competition.

To reduce the sedan’s kerb weight to just over 1 800 kg (1 825-kg DIN), the M5 CS’bonnet, front splitter, side-mirror caps, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, M Power engine cover and intake silencer are all made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). In fact, some elements feature exposed carbon fibre, the manufacturer says.

The M5 CS’ interior is awash with racy red detailing, leather trim, carbon-fibre inlays and Alcantara.

Meanwhile, the L-shaped lighting elements of the standard BMW Laser headlamps shine yellow when on low- or high beam (or when the welcome light comes on). Apart from M5 CS badging, the door sills are illuminated with M5 CS badges and various trim elements have a Shadowline finish.

Flasch had hinted that the M5 CS would have a bespoke treatment at the back of the cabin and sure enough, the newcomer features 4 individual M carbon-fibre bucket seats as opposed to a pair for sports seats and a bench. Those in the front have integrated headrests embossed with an outline the Nürburgring Nordschleife, while electric adjustment and heating are standard.

The M5 CS is BMW’s first super sedan since the E34-gen M5 to be offered with a 2+2 seating arrangement.

BMW has also fitted an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel. The red-accented shift paddles and M buttons tie in with the seats’ side inserts, the contrast stitching, centre console highlights and CS logo on the carbon-fibre-pattern fascia trim. Alcantara headlining complete the package.

Suffice to say the M5 CS will be produced in very limited numbers; only 5 units have been earmarked for the South African market and deliveries will begin in the 3rd quarter of 2021.

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