The 2024 BMW M3 CS Is an M4 CSL With More Seats and AWD

BMW unleashed the 2024 M3 CS on Tuesday, meant to stand at the top of the M3 lineup alongside the hardcore, track-ready M4 CSL coupe. Like the CSL, the M3 gets a 543-hp twin-turbo inline-six and plenty of carbon fiber goodies. But it also gets a row of back seats and, more importantly, xDrive as standard.

The M3 CS shares much of its design tweaks with the CSL, with exposed carbon fiber on the splitter, roof, parts of the hood, air intakes, rear spoiler, and mirror caps. There are also black side skirts and a handful of unique colors, including the Signal green you see here. The M3 CS also gets the CSL's M4 GT3-inspired frameless kidney grilles which, in our opinion, do a good deal to alleviate the unsightly front end found on the standard car.

The 3.0-liter S58 engine is unchanged from the CSL, making 40 more horsepower over the standard M3 Competition. That's mostly thanks to an increase in boost pressure and tuning, according to BMW. Torque is unchanged at 479 lb-ft, getting to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic paired to an M-tuned xDrive all-wheel-drive system and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential in the rear. BMW quotes a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds—nearly half a second quicker than the M4 CSL. Top speed is electronically limited to 188 mph.