THERMAL, Calif. – “This factor’s a ballistic missile,” I exclaimed to nobody particularly after hopping out of the 2022 BMW M5 CS at The Thermal Membership’s South Palms racetrack. I got here to roughly the identical conclusion 20 minutes earlier, having simply wrapped up a much less tire-squealing session on a canyon street outdoors of Thermal, Calif. This beast is so much of automotive, irrespective of the way you encounter it.
The M5 CS, a one-year-only limited-production model of the M5, is BMW’s strongest and quickest manufacturing automotive ever. With an official 0-60 mph dash of simply 2.9 seconds and 627 horsepower, velocity was anticipated, and velocity was achieved. That stated, the completely unlimited-production M5 Competition is sort of as highly effective, trailing the CS by simply 10 ponies. In case you focus an excessive amount of on that “strongest” bit, you’ll miss the purpose of the CS.
Its true goal is achieved by way of the multitude of different modifications. BMW put it by way of a weight-saving program, which is exactly what the big and weighty midsize tremendous sedan wanted. Outdoors, the CS will get a carbon fiber roof, hood, entrance splitter, rear diffuser, rear spoiler and mirror caps. Distinctive 20-inch solid (and gold-painted) wheels conceal behind commonplace carbon ceramic brakes, saving 51 kilos versus the usual brakes of the M5 Competitors alone.
Inside, weight financial savings come from stealing the brand new M3/M4 carbon fiber-backed seats — they nonetheless have the bizarre middle insert on the seat backside — and swapping to a four-seat structure with rear bucket seats. We are able to definitively say that these rear seats are the best on any manufacturing automotive right now, and so they’re legitimately practical at holding you in. In fact, you may by no means match 5 folks in an M5 CS.
All of these efforts add as much as 230 kilos of weight financial savings versus your run-of-the-mill M5 Competitors, bringing curb weight right down to 4,114 kilos. That’s nonetheless heavy, nevertheless it makes opponents just like the 4,497-pound E 63 S look porky compared. It’s even a contact lighter than the guide transmission-equipped CT5-V Blackwing, beating it out by 9 kilos. Not a foul effort, BMW.
The chassis is labored over to offer it a barely sharper edge than the Competitors, as BMW says it’s fiddled with the spring and adaptive damper tuning to make the most of the automotive’s decrease weight. These gold solid wheels are the identical dimension as the usual M5 Competitors wheels, however unique to the CS, you may wrap them in Pirelli P Zero Corsa summer season tires for no additional cost. Our street and monitor time was spent driving on the usual Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, however we’d suggest choosing the extra aggressive Pirelli rubber — that is the CS in any case.
Having recently driven the standard M5 Competition, which feels like an oxymoron, the CS weight-reduction plan ends in a barely lither M5 that is a smidgen extra keen to vary instructions and a little much less heavy on the nostril below braking. The distinction in acceleration is discernably faster than its 0.2-second enchancment over the usual Competitors would point out (2.9 seconds versus 3.1), however finally there’s no revelation hiding behind the CS letters. Contemplating how good the usual M5 Competitors is, an amazing leap wasn’t precisely obligatory.
The CS is higher on monitor for its added stiffness and diminished weight. Steady beatings of the huge carbon ceramic brakes from 150 mph couldn’t induce any fade or softness to the pedal. It’s not with out minor roll or physique motion, however the chassis at all times stays in tight verify — that’s no small accomplishment for the M5’s dimension. Steering really feel is much like that of the usual M5 in that it’s missing. You’re higher off making an attempt to pay attention for tire squeal or sense the Gs loading as much as type out the place the bounds of traction are, as a result of the tires don’t discuss a lot by way of the wheel. Lateral grip is plentiful with the Michelins, however once more, the Pirellis would theoretically be significantly better.
Go away the all-wheel-drive and stability management settings of their commonplace mode, and the automotive constrains itself on the monitor, protecting you from getting it out of hand. As soon as comfy with the automotive’s energy and chassis, although, M Dynamic Mode (MDM) is the place you need to be. That loosens the reins on stability management, permitting you to attain some slip angle, however not a lot that you find yourself pointing the opposite path. Mainly, it enables you to take full benefit of these 627 ponies on nook exit as you squeeze again onto the throttle to catapult your approach to the following nook. In case you’d slightly ditch all-wheel drive and do smoky burnouts or drifts, the CS permits you to lock all energy to the rear axle identical to the usual M5s do.
And boy it certain is enjoyable to set free your interior baby and go flat-out within the M5 CS. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 will get a brand new tune to attain the additional 10 horses, however torque stays the identical as the usual M5 Competitors at 553 pound-feet. Redline continues to be 7,200 rpm, however the peak torque band is 90-rpm wider than the common M5 Competitors. Energy supply is simply an oz. smoother within the CS than the common M5, because it strikes by way of the rev band with a contact much less abrasion. Launch Management begins shove you into your seat with extra immediacy than within the Competitors, which could possibly be as a lot concerning the lighter weight and stickier tires than the added energy. The highest velocity of 190 mph doesn’t really feel all that far off at Thermal, because the engine’s pull previous 130 and 140 mph continues to be wicked-strong.
Even should you’re not on a monitor, the M5 CS shines. BMW firming down the brutality of the M5’s experience final yr isn’t absolutely misplaced on this mannequin, as Consolation mode continues to be sedate and acceptable for freeway slogs. Its burbling and roaring exhaust can quiet right down to envelop the cabin in silence, because the eight-speed transmission silently swaps by way of gears. That stated, BMW doesn’t allow you to load it up with extras such because the Government Bundle or Driver Help Skilled Bundle like you may with the non-CS M5s. It’s meant to be the light-weight driver’s M5, not the luxury car.
And whereas it’s a hoot to drive, you may need simply as a lot enjoyable watching it parked. BMW went all-in on the gold accents, making use of what it calls a “Gold Bronze” end to the kidney grille encompass and all of the badging to match the wheels. It’s accented properly by racing-inspired yellow daytime working lights. These accents work fantastically in any of the three colors BMW affords: Manufacturers Hatch Gray, Frozen Manufacturers Hatch Gray and Frozen Deep Inexperienced. We’re personally followers of the pictured Frozen Deep Inexperienced, particularly with the gold wheels, a combo unique to the CS.
Step inside, and the CS-specific bits are there, however much less charming than on the surface. BMW makes use of a lined, grey trim materials that appears a bit like pretend carbon fiber. It neither appears to be like nor feels costly, and it de-classes what’s in any other case an expensive-looking, over-the-top, M-festooned inside.
“CS” is imprinted in pink on the sprint, and the pink stitching continues the black-and-red theme seen all through. On the constructive aspect, utilizing the carbon fiber M bucket seats from the M3/M4 was a very good transfer. You sit decrease within the automotive with these seats, and there’s zero probability of you transferring about with the sheer dimension and intrusiveness of the bolsters. The Nürburgring Nordschleife monitor map is printed on the headrests of all 4 seats, maybe suggesting that you must take your self and three associates for a experience within the CS on Germany’s famed racetrack. Utilizing them to truly navigate while on the Nurburgring is just not really helpful.
BMW additionally lastly gave the M5 acceptable paddle shifters. The tiny, plastic paddles seen on the traditional M5 are swapped for large carbon fiber paddles on the CS. They’re super-easy to succeed in and are correctly clicky — time to use these paddles throughout the M lineup, BMW.
Identical to each current CS-badged M model, the M5 CS comes at an amazing premium over the usual M5. In comparison with the bottom Competitors, the CS is $30,900 extra. Take away your jaws from the desk now. Yeah, it’s so much to ask. Equip the M5 Competitors as equally as you may to the CS (carbon brakes, upgraded inside, M Driver’s Bundle and many others.), and the hole shrinks to $16,400. That sounds tolerable for a well-to-do M5 fanatic who needs absolutely the best-performing and unique M5 they’ll purchase. BMW is simply promoting the M5 CS for one mannequin yr, so that you’ll have to purchase whereas it lasts. It’s simply the best-looking and best-driving M5 of this G30 era, however even should you determine towards it, an M5 Competitors goes to deliver you about 99% of the driving happiness the CS offers.
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