The 2024 BMW M3 CS will be sold in Australia but it will do so at a significant premium to the car’s U.S. price.
Set to be showcased to the public for the first time at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Daytona race, the limited-run BMW M3 CS will land Down Under in the second half of 2023. BMW has not said how many units will be produced, nor how many will be sold in Australia. What we do know is that it will be priced from AU$249,900 ($177,504). That’s a heck of a lot more than its $118,700 (~AU$167,000) starting price in the U.S.
It is also considerably more expensive than the standard M3 Competition (AU$160,900 / $114,271) and the forthcoming Mercedes-AMG C 63 E Performance Hybrid that’s expected to start at around AU$200,000 ($142,040).
However, the price probably won’t dissuade all that many BMW enthusiasts from placing an order. After all, Aussies love their M cars, so much so that one in five BMWs registered in the country wears a BMW M badge.
Read: 543-HP 2024 BMW M3 CS Is An Even Faster M4 CSL For The Family Guy
The BMW M3 CS shares many of its parts with the M4 CSL. This includes the same modified 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder that includes a new forged lightweight crankshaft, a cylinder head with a 3D-printed core, and a crankcase with a sleeve-free, closed-deck construction. All up, the hardcore sports sedan is good for 543 hp at 6,250 rpm and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.
A key difference between the M3 CS and the M4 CSL is that the former uses an xDrive all-wheel drive system while the latter is rear-wheel drive only. This means the M3 CS is significantly quicker off the line, capable of hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.2 seconds compared to the 3.8 seconds of the M4 CSL.
A number of weight-saving measures have been made over the M3 Competition on which the CS is based. These include a carbon fiber hood, air intake, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and spoiler. There is also a new titanium exhaust. As a result, the M3 CS weighs 75 lbs (34 kg) less than the Competition, tipping the scales at 3,915 lbs (1,776 kg).
