Yahoo Autos BMW Once Built a V-8 E46 M3 CSL
Over the years, BMW M has built some wild prototypes, an E30 M3 pickup and a McLaren F1-engined X5 being particular highlights. To celebrate the new M4 CSL, BMW is showing off old CSL prototypes never before seen, and the staff of Road & Track, largely composed of hopeless BMW dorks, is losing its collective minds. Just look at this M5-powered M3 CSL prototype and you'll know why.
Hans Rahn, head of prototyping for BMW M, says the idea here was to take the E46 M3 CSL a step further, and that was accomplished by installing the 5.0-liter S65 V-8 from the E39 M5. A second hole in the grille was needed to feed the V-8, but otherwise, this is a stock E46 M3 CSL. Rahn says that the V-8 made this car a bit heavier than a six-cylinder M3 CSL, but he didn't seem upset about it, grinning from ear to ear. Fitting this big, torquey V-8 in place of the E46 M3's rev-mad six-cylinder would've fundamentally changed the character of the car, and maybe not for the better, but we wouldn't say no to a chance behind the wheel. Especially knowing just how special the later V-8-powered E92 M3 feels.
Rahn also features CSL versions of the E60-generation M5 and the E63-generation M6. The M5 was built to celebrate the model's 25th anniversary, and features a reworked, 9000-rpm version of the famous 5.o-liter V-10. BMW M fit the V-10 with a full carbon fiber intake system, and it looks amazing. Also of note, this M5 ditched the standard single-clutch automated manual gearbox for a prototype of the Getrag dual-clutch that appeared in later M cars. That single-clutch 'box was slow and unrefined, and I bet E60 M5 owners would love to know what the car felt like with a more modern transmission.
While the M5 looks like it was built simply for fun, the E63 M6 CSL looks like it could've gone in production. BMW used it to explore active aerodynamics, so the car has a deployable splitter and rear wing, and a totally stripped out interior. This could've been a perfect homage to the original 3.0 CSL.
At the end of this video, BMW M teases a coming clip of more CSL prototypes, including a version of the old M2. I understand why these three cars never made production, but being shown a never-built M2 CSL seems cruel. At least we know more CSL cars from BMW are coming.
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