BMW M3 CS Spied Inside And Out

Here's your first look at the new track-focused BMW M3 CS.

The brand new BMW M3 is one of our most highly anticipated new performance sedans. BMW has been busy testing prototypes of the new M3 for several years now, but this is our first look at the new track-focused BMW M3 CS (Club Sport).

At first glance, the prototype appears to be a standard G80 M3, but there are several exterior enhancements that indicate we're looking at the faster and lighter CS version such as a front lip spoiler, CS style trunk spoiler, and staggered wheel sizes. Judging from the previous M3 CS, expect BMW's new track weapon to be upgraded with a unique exhaust that will produce a more aggressive soundtrack and a carbon fiber hood and roof to reduce the car's weight. These components haven't been fitted yet, however, suggesting that this prototype is at an early stage of testing.

Other improvements over the standard M3 will include unique wheels and high-performance tires, while the handling will be sharpened up with revised dynamic stability control and limited-slip differential. Like the regular M3 prototypes, the M3 CS prototype is heavily disguised in camouflage, but we already know the front will have a massive kidney grille inspired by the controversial 4 Series concept. Our spies also managed to get a peek inside the interior, giving us a clear look at the new M3's optional carbon fiber bucket seats.

Under the hood, the new BMW M3 will use the same 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine as the X3 M and X4 M that's expected to produce 473 hp in the base model and 503 hp in the M3 Competition.

Expect the M3 CS to get a slight power increase. For reference, the old M3 CS had nine more hp than the M3 Competition and 28 more hp than the regular M3, bringing the total output to 453 hp and 443 lb-ft. While RWD variants of the new M3 will get a manual transmission to please the purists, we can see that the track-focused M3 CS will have an automatic just like its predecessor, paired to an all-wheel-drive system for the first time in an M3.

Production will be limited since the previous M3 CS was limited to just 1,200 units. While the regular BMW M3 is expected to debut later this year, the CS version probably won't break cover until sometime in 2021.