TRACK TEST: BMW M4CS around Kyalami
We arrived at Kyalami race track and were told that we would each get 3 laps on the world-famous circuit drive the “1 of 1 in SA” M4CS. At around 1.8 Million rand the San Marino Blue CS is currently worth more than the sum of its parts.
The briefing for the M4CS was that it would have to do hard laps with enthusiastic journalists and then be one of the stars of the first ever South African M Festival. The BMW PR team seemed typically relaxed about the entire situation but the objective was clear; “Have fun, but don’t bend it!”
We got to sample every M4 derivative from the base M4 which, even in standard trim is a capable track day tool. Here’s a car that will gladly do hot laps around the 3.89km long circuit and tootle around town in relative anonymity.
One step up is the competition pack, which for most would suffice for the occasional track day. One more click up from that is where the M4CS sits, just below the limited edition and sold out DTM Champion Edition, and the much more track focussed GTS.
The differences are incremental but noticeable. The CS feels light on the rear and on the roof, anywhere behind the driver actually when compared to the Competition Pack. This all thanks to carbon spoilers, a carbon prop shaft and carbon roof. The front feels weighty and planted like all M4s, but it seems like most of the engineering went into getting the rear to go where the front is pointing. Even on the fast sweep on the main straight of Kyalami, the CS feels light, almost twitchy at the rear.
One has to trust that those Michelin Cup 2s will stay true, and they do. I suspect this nature is due to a combination of the differential working hard and possibly some extra rear toe. The strangeness continues when you get on the carbon ceramic brakes, lots of feel but not much pressure is needed to get the car to stop and turn, and trail braking allows for very, very late stopping. All M4s respond to smoothness and precision, and M4CS is no different. Get the throttle/brake transitions just so, and the car will behave in a predictable and fast manner. Feed the steering input gently and M4CS will track apex to exit without much drama. Thanks to that extra toe at the rear, braking hard does induce some deliciously addictive rear squirm, but not so much that the car feels unstable. It’s no surprise then that M4CS managed a 7:38 around “The ‘Ring”.
Kyalami is a big long circuit, and even with 338Kw, the M4CS felt like it could handle even more power. Unfortunately, we couldn’t apply full commitment thanks to the rare nature of this car, but M4CS could easily spend a track day lapping up every last lap.
Overall M4CS is not much different from the M4 Competition pack, but if hot laps are what you’re after this is the one for you. You wouldn’t really have a choice anyhow because the DTM is sold out, and thankfully this one comes with a much more attractive carbon rear wing.
Lairy on fast sweeps, yes, but unbelievably poised in tighter corners. You get all this plus rear seats, park distance control, and a decent audio system. The top speed on SA models is an irrelevant 280km/h and 0-100 comes up in under 4 seconds.
M4CS certainly is a car for the enthusiast, but with some very practical concessions.
