2023 BMW M4 CSL: 42 for Canada

Strong points
  • The sharpest and raciest of all M4 models
  • Exceptional performance
  • Terrific handling
  • Highly exclusive product
Weak points
  • Stratospheric price
  • Very limited availability
  • Needs a better transmission
  • Comfort is sorely lacking
Full report

One thousand. That’s how many units of the new 2023 BMW M4 CSL (Competition Sport Leicht) will be sold globally. And only 42 of those—one more than initially announced—will be allocated to the Canadian market, priced at $166,500 apiece. Since most customers will likely keep the car safely stored until it gains value, consider yourself extremely lucky if you happen to come across one—and maybe buy a lottery ticket while you’re at it.

As BMW M celebrates its 50th anniversary, executives chose to revive the concept of the first M car to ever hit the market, the 1972 3.0 CSL. Following several years of development and modest racing success in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) with various iterations of the CS a.k.a. Batmobile (due to its full-width rear wing), the CSL was created as a homologation special.

The M4 CSL is to BMW what the 911 GT3 is to Porsche—a bridge between road cars and endurance race cars. Its Laserlight daytime running lights illuminate in yellow rather than white, evoking the look of GT racers.

Photo: Lucas Scarfone

Lighter Weight, Boosted Turbos

To create the 2023 BMW M4 CSL, M engineers relied on the proven formula of light weight, increased power and sharper handling. By using carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for body and interior components and switching to ultra-lightweight sound insulation, they saved 26 kg. Eliminating the rear seats cut another 21 kg. Chassis alterations, including the addition of standard lightweight M Carbon ceramic brakes and forged light-alloy wheels, springs and struts, reduced weight by another 20.8 kg. In the end, the M4 CSL is 100 kg lighter than the M4 Competition.

Boost pressure has been increased from 24.7 psi in the M4 Competition to 30.5 psi in the CSL, while the exhaust, cooling and lubrication systems have been revised. As a result, the twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine produces 542 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. By the way, the front-end strut brace developed specifically for the M4 CSL takes the body rigidity to another level. No xDrive model is available here—this limited edition is pure rear-wheel drive bliss. On the other hand, forget about a manual gearbox—shifting is handled exclusively by BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic.

Photo: Lucas Scarfone

Fun Times at Mosport

BMW Canada invited us to a lapping session at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport) in Bowmanville, Ontario. Sadly, the track was still wet from the day before. The M4 CSL shot out of the pit lane like a cannonball and the high-revving straight-six quickly filled the cabin with a dizzying amount of decibels. There’s no comparison to be made with the M4 Competition.

Steering is even more direct since the front axle's forged swivel bearing has more camber, greatly increasing the car's ability to put down power through high-speed corners. I was extremely glad to be able to get such great feel from the front wheels as the rain made it more difficult to find grip along the track.

Photo: Lucas Scarfone

The M Carbon ceramic brakes are really powerful. So much, in fact, that it’s best to set them in Comfort mode rather than Sport mode when traction is limited in order not to upset the car when braking. Incidentally, you should know that the M4 CSL’s various systems can be set independently from one another. As I found out, the ideal combination on wet or semi-wet pavement is Comfort for the brakes and Sport for the chassis, steering and powertrain.

With the adaptive M suspension featuring electronically controlled dampers, the explosive coupe felt wonderfully at ease on a track like Mosport, which includes several elevation changes. Acceleration is fantastic, but you need to be careful when coming out of turn 5B to avoid oversteer. And on the not-so-straight Mario Andretti Straight, the engine let out a joyful scream as the M4 CSL rushed toward the Canadian Tire Bridge.

Photo: Lucas Scarfone

Complaints? Well, the automatic transmission is sometimes slow to react, especially when downshifting. Given the sharper, more aggressive nature of this car, it could definitely use a quicker-shifting dual-clutch unit that’s better suited for track use.

The CFRP sport seats provide excellent support, while the top centre marker on the Alcantara-clad steering wheel is a nice touch. Other than that, the dashboard is very similar to that of the M4 Competition.

Bottom Line

In the end, the 2023 BMW M4 CSL is an exceptional driving machine made even more special by the super-small number of units allocated to the Canadian market, nearly all of which are already spoken for.  

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

NewsBMW to Keep Manual Transmission Alive at Least Through 2030
The extinction of manual transmissions seems inevitable now as the auto industry moves forward with electrified powertrains, but there are still some companies out there that care about pleasing sporty driving enthusiasts and insist on keeping it alive. BMW is one of them. In a recent interview with CarBuzz , …
News2023 BMW M4 CSL: Canada to Get 41 of Those 543-Horsepower Racers
As it turns 50, BMW M is celebrating with a very special and limited edition of the M4 high-performance coupe that brings back the CSL (Competition Sport Lightweight) moniker. Limited how? Well, production starts in July and will stop at 1,000 units, only 41 of which will head to Canada, …
Pre-owned vehiclesBMW 1 Series or 2 Series: What's the Difference?
For many, the benchmark model for BMW is the 3 Series, the brand’s most popular car. Those who are looking for a smaller format—but not necessarily cheaper—can however turn to the 2 Series . Note that the latter comes in two different configurations: a coupe and a convertible based on …
New ModelsBMW Revives Legendary 3.0 CSL With 552 Horsepower
The BMW 3.0 CSL (Competition Sport Lightweight) from the 1970s is an automotive legend and a key piece of the German automaker’s rich history. A tribute in the form of a concept was introduced in 2015, but the result wasn’t exactly a success especially with that garish yellow body. Hot …
NewsBMW Announces Limited M Performance Edition Only for Canada
BMW has some good news for fans of the 4 Series Coupe : an M Performance Edition of the M440i xDrive model is coming to Canada. The bad news? Only 100 units are available. The most striking element is arguably the exclusive colour combinations, which are limited to 20 units …
News2024 BMW M3 CS Delivers 543 Horsepower at a Staggering Price
Hot on the heels of the 2023 M4 CSL , here comes the brand new and equally powerful 2024 BMW M3 CS, which will be available in very limited numbers and priced from a staggering $148,000 in Canada. Just like every other BMW car sporting the “CS” (Competition Sport) designation, …
NewsBMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Returns With Canada-Only Special Edition
The BMW 4 Series is now available in coupe and convertible body styles only, leaving the practical four-door coupe configuration—or Gran Coupe, in BMW speak—to the fully electric i4 . There will be one exception for the 2024 model year, however. BMW today announced a new M440i xDrive Gran Coupe …
News2025 BMW 4 Series is Refreshed and Mildly Electrified
The BMW 4 Series Coupe and Cabriolet get another round of updates for the 2025 model year. The changes aren’t major but cover many aspects of the car. On the outside, the headlights, grille, 19-inch wheels and taillights all sport a fresh look. The last ones are particularly striking with …