BMW M GmbH has just closed a year of festivities linked to the celebrations of its 50th anniversary, with the presentation of the BMW 3.0 CSL, a limited edition inspired by the emblematic sports car which allowed it to impose itself on international circuits in the 70s.
Muscular lines, lightweight construction, 6-cylinder in-line engine and manual transmission, the BMW 3.0 CSL combines all the ingredients that have made BMW M GmbH models successful for half a century.
The newcomer, of which only 50 copies will be assembled at the BMW plant in Dingolfing, Bavaria, and at the Munich and Landshut sites (for its bodywork as well as the carbon fiber elements of its cockpit), will offer performances worthy of of its inspiration, the BMW 3.0 CSL. The latter, also known under the pseudonym of “Batmobile”, won the European Touring Car Championship as soon as it entered the race in 1973 (it triumphed there again from 1975 to 1979), before distinguishing itself on American circuits from 1975.
This new BMW 3.0 CSL (for “Coupé, Sport, Leichtbau”) whose spectacular lines tested in the wind tunnel (deflectors, rear spoiler, widened wheel arches…), unquestionably recall those of the original BMW 3.0 CSL, is built with a large carbon fiber reinforcement and thus displays a weight/power ratio of 2.9 kg/hp.
Powered by a 6-cylinder 560 hp
The 3.0-litre 6-cylinder unit associated with M TwinPower Turbo technology, for its part, develops some 560 hp and 550 Nm, making it the most powerful of the 6-cylinders assembled to date by BMW M GmbH for a model homologated for the road. (the BMW M4 GT3 entered in the DTM has 600 hp).
This engine is here associated with a manual gearbox whose 6 reports have been adapted to its cavalry. The driver of the vehicle will be able to play with this transmission via a gear lever with a white knob (recall to the 1973 model) marked with the number “50”. This gearbox will send the power of the 6-cylinder block only to the rear wheels of the German sports car, which will also benefit from the presence of the active M differential and the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system to optimize its performance. And not only.
Adaptive M suspension with electronic damper control, M Traction Control technology and a carbon-ceramic braking system are also on the menu for this preparation, which the two passengers of the vehicle will enjoy from a sporty cockpit. .
Lightweight materials and carbon fiber were used primarily to create this cabin, equipped with adjustable M carbon fiber bucket seats, an M steering wheel covered in Alcantara, trim in black Alcantara and a matte carbon fiber finish, and obviously equipped with a numbered plate specific to each vehicle (ranging from #01/50 to #50/50).
The BMW 3.0 CSL which comes to close this very special year for BMW M GmbH, already marked by the arrival of the new BMW M2, BMW M3 Touring and M4 CSL, will go into production next year. Three months will be needed to produce each of these 50 vehicles, for which BMW M GmbH has not yet specified a selling price.
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