BMW Shelves Plans for E92 M3 CSL
We are sorry to have to bring you the gut-wrenching news that has surfaced today. M Division boss Luwig Willisch has confirmed that the pure performance orientated E92 BMW M3 CSL will NOT make it to production. BMW believes that there will be insufficient demand for the model and will instead focus its efforts of the M Division on the M versions of the X5 and X6.
The lighter and more performance orientated CSL (Coupe Sport Lightweight) was expected to drop in weight by up to 100kg due to the use of much lighter materials for its components and rumours also stated a power rating of 450bhp-470bhp could have been achieved.
The news follows previous confirmations that the premium automaker will not create a rival to the Audi R8 or a production version of the M1 Homage concept, yet they still promote the the slogan “Ultimate driving machine”. Perhaps "Money Making Machine" would suit them better?
Please note the image shown is the previous generation E46 M3 CSL
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Comments
Bye bye BM trouble you! Chris Bangle on their design team was the worst mistake they ever made.
You people cry as if the current M3 is not the dominating 3 door german family performance coupe! When Audi release their RS5 it will be better than the M3, but only after the 4 years of current M3's being in showrooms. Thats Audi's game.
The day BMW closes its M division, then scream and shout. Until then there is still only one ultimate driving machine. I can now imagine I will get slated for this.
As far as Audi is concerned, even back when they were Auto Union, they've always done great work with their cars and possibly the most highly engineered and advanced cars in the affordable mass market arena. They are still kings of 4WD. They have made it their art. When you start bashing Audi in praise for BMW, and don't even bother considering or respecting Audi with important safety features as better performance in the wet, then your argument just gets that much more shallow.
BMWs were once "The Ultimate Driving Machine." Not anymore. They are comfortable, they are definitely safer as the years passed, but not ultimate driving machines. BMW in their past, up until 2005, have built damn fine machines. But when they let Chris Bangle) take over their designs, and then made stupid decisions as bagging their CSL line, they are drifting away from their concept. Even when I had my Z4 M. That car was a BLAST to drive, until I took it to a local track to practice on my driving and get the "speed" out of me. The car felt heavy, understeered a lot, and just was not the ultimate driving machine BMW says they are. It was just complete crap once it was put on the track.
But in fairness, I will say the 1 series are definitely a step in the right direction. Those are great machines and very well designed and engineered. I am even looking at purchasing one when this lease is up. I had the fortune of driving a track-mate's 1 series around (no modifications, completely stock 135i) on the track and it handled beautifully. Surprisingly better than my Z4 M. Do I think BMW will follow what they did with the 1 series on their other cars? I doubt it. But there is always hope.
Again, Audi is going to win this easily if BMW keeps going backwards and producing piles of dung and lorries called the new M3. It is very sad when my 328i handles corners better than the new M3.
That new M3, and I have said this time and time again, is total utter crap. If your "pro" drivers are praising the car, I wonder how much they are getting paid. All I have heard is regret on purchasing the car for 70K when the car feels like it should be worth closer to 40.
But yeah man, you are right, lemme get an Audi. I really fancy that RS4. Not the new one coming out, but the older one, perhaps a 2005.
BMW and Honda are the only car manufacturers without a nice BIG parent company throwing money at whatever project they choose. If some of you would think with a little more BUSINESS before you post, you may understand BMW's actions.
Some people here really need to learn how to drive if they constantly require an unbalanced 4x4 system to stop them from having an accident. Pitiful.
there was no competitors to the Carrera GT/Enzo/SLR a few years back. nothing in the GT2 / Gallardo / F430 / R8 / etc etc range.
no kids put up a BMW poster in their bedroom anymore. no kids grow up dreaming of a BMW.
they are going to suffer in the next generation of car buyers.
sorry for the previous efforts of the M division.
All the critics are simple people who drive their Volks or Toyota's. Whatever they say mean nothing because they probably have never driven a BMW in their life. They might have. and they are just taking their jelousy out on this website. I dont know. Just feel sorry for them.
There is most probably something in the works for a M version of the 7-series and since there are many prototypes running about. The CSL is probably in the bottom of their to do list. A new Z model is in the works. A new 5 series. 2 new M versions of the X range. Once those are out of the way. and once the Audi RS5 time creeps closer. The CSL will emerge.
All critics. Please go find another website if you have nothing useful to say.
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