Yahoo Autos 2022 BMW 3.0 CSL is a manual, rear-wheel-drive throwback to the 1970s
BMW is giving enthusiasts something to be very thankful for this Thanksgiving. The company's M division unveiled a heritage-inspired limited-edition model called 3.0 CSL that was designed as a tribute to the original 3.0 CSL, one of BMW's most emblematic models.
Introduced in early 1972 to homologate the E9 in the European Touring Car Championship, the CSL designation stood for "coupé sport leichtbau," which means "coupe sport lightweight" in German. Fast-forward 50 years, and the born-again CSL stays true to tradition: It's a coupe, it's certainly sporty, and we're promised it's light thanks to the widespread use of carbon fiber. BMW M stresses that it developed the 3.0 CSL in-house on its own, this is not merely an M4 with a body kit, and it ensured the coupe is street-legal in European markets.
Visually, the 3.0 CSL looks more like BMW's modern-day coupes than like its predecessor; this isn't a full-on retro-styled car with round headlights. However, there are a handful of clear visual links between the two CSLs including flared fenders and quarter panels, a roof-mounted spoiler made with fiberglass-reinforced plastic, and a rear wing shaped like the unit fitted to the original car. As a side note, the 1972 3.0 CSL's wing earned it the nickname "Batmobile" and wasn't approved for road use (spoilers were a novelty at the time) so BMW couldn't deliver the car with it. Instead, the company placed the spoiler in the trunk and asked owners to get it installed on their own.
Back to the present: Most of the 3.0 CSL's body panels (including the roof panel, trunk lid, and sills) are made with carbon fiber, and the coupe rides on specific 20-inch front and 21-inch rear center-locking wheels wrapped by tires that Michelin developed specifically for it. The blue, red, and Alpine White livery is a throwback to the 1970s, and it doesn't sound like BMW will make other color combinations available.
The cabin looks familiar if you've spent time in BMW's recent models, but there are some cool features scattered throughout. One is the shift knob, which is finished in white and engraved with the shift pattern as well as the number 50. Carbon fiber trim reminds the driver and one passenger of the car's lightweight construction. We say "one passenger" because there are no rear seats. Instead, the space behind the M carbon bucket front seats is reserved for a storage compartment designed for racing helmets. And while BMW took out a great deal of the sound-deadening material to save weight, the 3.0 CSL offers features like air conditioning and a touchscreen-based infotainment system.
