#m5cs

Track racing is typically a solitary activity that you wouldn’t perform with your friend or significant other in the passenger seat unless they specifically expressed interest. The dramatically changing inertia and g-forces that result from pushing your car’s power and grip might not sit well with everyone’s stomach. Even if you really wish to bring someone along for the ride, you do need to consider their desires first… but not with the 2022 BMW M5 CS. Featuring bolstered bucket seats for front and rear occupants, everyone is meant to come along for the ride. So strap in, take a deep breath, and let your speed-crazed car enthusiast friend rip their new German track toy around the Nürburgring as you sit in the back, eagle-eyed, pondering why you even became friends with this four-wheel-machine-loving adrenaline freak in the first place. But hey, it is quite exciting isn’t it? Now the quickest and most powerful production street car from BMW, the M5 CS makes no compromises in achieving the ultimate performance experience and design aesthetics.

Performance

Powered by a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 with 627 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, the M5 CS can accelerate from 0-60 in a supercar time of 2.9 seconds and is capable of an impressive top speed of 190 mph. While the CS makes only 10 additional horsepower and the same amount of torque as the already available M5 Competition, it does also weigh 230 pounds less thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber all throughout the car, inside and out. And when combined with various handling improvements, such as standard lightweight forged wheels, carbon ceramic brakes, massive 275/35 front and 285/35 rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, stiffened anti-roll bars and lowering springs, the CS makes for an overall more track-focused experience that a die-hard enthusiast will surely appreciate. There is also a cool new “track” mode that aims to keep focus on the drive itself by disabling certain driving aids, dimming the infotainment display, and turning off the speakers. 

M5 CS engine bay, with carbon fiber engine cover and hood

Design

The M5 CS is meant as more than just an improved driving experience from standard M5 models, but also as a statement of exclusivity. Boasting unique styling cues and colors, there is no mistaking its strikingly muscular appearance for anything other than a symbol of pure power and performance.

Front

All throughout the exterior, the CS features many one-of-a-kind design elements and details that grants a distinctive appearance, with Gold Bronze and carbon fiber being at the center of the theme. At the front, we can see a Gold Bronze colored grille and badge, carbon fiber splitter, and special yellow-tinted LED lights inspired by the headlights of BMW race cars, such as the M8 GTE. The Gold Bronze and yellow match wonderfully with this particular example’s Frozen Deep Green Metallic paint job. The bumper design itself looks strong and aggressive, with large air vent openings to accompany the air-hungry V8 inside.

M5 CS front

Yellow-tinted daytime running lights

Gold Bronze Kidney Grille

Carbon fiber front splitter

Side

The side profile looks powerful thanks to a sharp body line that moves from the air vent straight toward the rear taillight, accompanied by a parallel line down at the side skirt. But the most noticeable aspect is of course the gorgeous 20-inch forged Y-spoke wheels, finished in the beautiful Gold Bronze that we’ve now come to expect with the M5 CS. They are complimented by large six-piston red brake calipers at the front (single-piston at the rear) and drilled carbon ceramic rotors. Gold calipers are available too.

M5 CS side

Gold Bronze Y-Spoke wheel

Gold Bronze fender vent with M5 CS badging

Carbon fiber mirror cover

Rear

The rear continues the CS theme with a Gold Bronze M5 CS badge, carbon fiber diffuser and trunk lip spoiler. Peeking through the diffuser are quad exhaust tips, because you wouldn’t expect anything less with a sport sedan like this. The taillights are nicely tinted at the perimeter, fitting well with the dark green and carbon fiber.

M5 CS rear

Carbon fiber rear diffuser with quad exhaust tips

Carbon fiber rear lip spoiler

Interior

The interior will easily spoil the occupants with its astonishing intricacy and exotic materials. Alcantara steering wheel with 12 o’clock mark, carbon fiber paddle shifters, red stitching, CS logo on the carbon fiber dashboard, Nürburgring track outline on the headrests, heavily bolstered front bucket seats with carbon fiber backs and openings for racing seat belts, rear bucket seats with center seat deletion and CS logo in its place… all these elements come together to form an ultra-sporty cabin that constantly reminds of the specialty of this car.

M5 CS interior

Alcantara steering wheel with subtle 12 o’clock center marker

Carbon fiber paddle shifter

“CS” (Club Sport) logo on carbon fiber dashboard

Merino Leather and Alcantara front bucket seats with Mugello Red stitching

Nürburgring track outline on headrest

Carbon fiber backings for the front seats

Rear bucket seats, also featuring Nürburgring headrest outline and red stitching

It is great to see that BMW continues to push the boundaries of their cars. The M5 is a high-performance sedan as is, with an already available Competition package. And yet, here we have an even better M5 that tops them all, pushing all the potential this platform can offer as a street car.