In a nutshell:
- Ballistic new BMW M5 CS super saloon is fastest ‘M’ car ever produced
- Increases power to 635 hp - 18 hp up on standard M5 Competition
- CS also sits lower and has bespoke suspension set-up for track tomfoolery
- Limited edition run, deliveries in spring
It's fast and very much furious - say hello to the BMW M5 Cs, the fastest and most powerful 'M' car ever produced by BMW.
The BMW M5 CS is a seriously high-powered performer and it’s not like the standard M5, available in ‘Competition’ trim only and released in June last year, is a slouch.
With a 4.4 litre twin-turbocharged V8 the M5 Competition produces 617 hp and can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds. That’s already more than enough grunt to worry the Mercedes-AMG E63.
But the men in white coats at BMW have looked at the M5 Competition and decided, ‘Nope, we definitely need even more power’. And so, in walks the M5 CS, a hardcore super saloon that takes ‘M performance to an unprecedented level’, according to BMW.
The engine remains the same as the M5 Competition, but here they’ve managed to eke out 635 hp and peak torque of 750Nm, giving it a 0-62mph time of 3.0 seconds flat.
Equipped with the M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, the CS can also accelerate from zero to 124mph in a little more than 10 seconds.
The CS is electronically limited to a top speed of 189mph, which BMW says keeps ‘everyday usability’ in mind, while adding that this is ‘a luxury saloon equally at home on the road as it is on the racetrack.’
Despite the blistering performance, fuel economy is somewhat surprisingly good, with up to 26 mpg and CO2 emissions of between 257 – 248 g/km. So what else do you get with the CS that you don’t enjoy with the M5 Competition?
First thing to mention is the ride height, which is 7mm lower, as well as shock absorbers pinched from the M8 Gran Coupe.
A BMW spokesperson explains: “As well as bringing added comfort to the driving experience, these dampers also reduce fluctuation in wheel loads, greatly improving on-the-limit handling. The bearing springs at the front and rear axle of the BMW M5 CS have been retuned and damper control has also been refined to consider the lower vehicle weight and the tyres’ increased performance potential.”
There are also bespoke engine mounts to improve transmission of the power to the drivetrain while BMW has also improved engine lubrication and cooling, designed for outings on the racetrack where the system needs to be able to handle high levels of longitudinal and lateral acceleration.
The CS also features a shoutier exhaust system, which changes according to which drive mode you select - from EFFICIENT, SPORT or SPORT .
Something that goes so rapidly also needs to stop in a hurry - which is why the CS comes with carbon ceramic brakes as standard.
Meanwhile there are also unique design flourishes, from Laserlight headlamps to M Carbon bucket-style seats with integral head restraints and illuminated M5 logos. As you’d expect from such a high-end model, the cabin comes with all the bells and whistles, from a Head-Up Display to a fully-connected 12.3 inch central display screen.
The only bad news is that the CS is a limited-run special edition - and likely to be snapped-up quickly. The M5 CS is priced at £140,780 on-the-road. Deliveries will begin in spring 2021.
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