Even sportier, even more luxurious, even more exclusive: BMW M GmbH is expanding its ranks of specialised performance-focused CS models with the introduction of the BMW M5 CS (fuel consumption, combined: 25.0 – 25.9 mpg, CO₂ emissions, combined: 257 – 248 g/km) – the most powerful production car in the history of the company.

Searingly fast yet eminently usable, the BMW M5 CS is the ultimate incarnation of the BMW M5 and it is the first time there has been a special edition of the iconic model. It blends the kind of performance you might expect of a supercar – 0-62mph achieved in only 3.0 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 189mph – with everyday usability. It is a luxury saloon equally at home on the road as it is on the racetrack.

The BMW M5 CS builds on the established presence of the BMW M3 CS, BMW M4 CS and BMW M2 CS. As the flagship model in the range, the BMW M5 CS represents the highest rung of the BMW M ladder and sets new standards, combining standout performance attributes with an exclusive and luxurious appearance.

Power is provided by a 4.4-litre V8 engine with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology that develops 635hp – 10hp more than in the BMW M5 Competition. Its track suitability is elevated by its lightweight design, bespoke chassis tuning and the M xDrive system, with its centralised intelligent control approach for the Active M Differential.

The M5 CS is priced at £140,780 on-the-road. Deliveries will begin in spring 2021.

The most powerful engine fitted by BMW M GmbH
The BMW M5 CS sports the most powerful engine fitted by BMW M GmbH. The 4.4-litre V8 with M TwinPower Turbo technology develops 635hp at 6,000rpm, and peak torque of 750Nm is produced from 1,800 – 5,950rpm. The high-revving nature of the eight-cylinder unit – it tops out at 7,200rpm – and strong power delivery are derived from motorsport. The engine’s characteristics can be altered at the touch of a button from the basic EFFICIENT mode to SPORT and SPORT+, the latter two further quickening the engine’s response to accelerator movements.

Equipped with the M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic, the BMW M5 CS accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 3.0 seconds. The special edition needs just 10.4 seconds to reach 124mph from rest and is electronically limited to a top speed of 189mph.

Optimised chassis designed to work with track tyres
The new BMW M5 CS builds on the chassis of the BMW M5 Competition and features a seven-millimetre drop in ride-height plus shock absorbers developed for the BMW M8 Gran Coupé. As well as bringing added comfort to the driving experience, these dampers also reduce fluctuation in wheel loads, greatly improving on-the-limit handling. The bearing springs at the front and rear axle of the BMW M5 CS have been retuned and damper control has also been refined to consider the lower vehicle weight and the tyres’ increased performance potential.

The BMW M5 CS rides as standard on Pirelli P Zero Corsa track tyres measuring 275/35 R 20 at the front and 285/35 R 20 at the rear, which are fitted to 20‑inch M forged wheels in Y‑spoke design (front: 9.5 J x 20, rear: 10.5 J x 20) with a Gold Bronze finish.

Bespoke engine mounts and track-ready oil supply
The BMW M5 CS is fitted with engine mounts that have a spring rating of 900N/mm. The engine’s firm connection to the car’s structure results in rapid engine response and immediate transmission of its power to the drivetrain. The V8 engine – featuring a bespoke BMW M Power cover made from exposed carbon fibre and bearing a full-colour M logo – works with optimised turbochargers and has maximum injection pressure of 350 bar for shorter injection times and improved atomisation of fuel. Improvements have also been made to lubrication and cooling, including an oil pan with a small front sump and an indirect charge air cooling system, which is extremely effective despite taking up little space. The oil supply system uses a fully variable, map-controlled pump and has been designed for outings on the racetrack, where it can handle very high levels of longitudinal and lateral acceleration.

Distinctive M-specific soundtrack and M Sound Control button
The sports exhaust system of the M5 CS delivers a distinctive M‑specific sound that accentuates the engine’s strong production of power and appetite for revs. The dual-branch, flap-controlled system has been designed to amplify the engine note and offer sportier and clearer feedback, while ensuring it remains suitable for everyday conditions. The sound produced by the BMW M5 CS changes depending on which of the various modes affecting engine characteristics – EFFICIENT, SPORT or SPORT+ – is selected. The character of the engine note is particularly powerful in SPORT+. The driver can use the M Sound Control button at any time to soften the car’s acoustic presence – for example when driving through a residential area.

M Carbon ceramic brakes as standard
The M Carbon ceramic brakes for the BMW M5 CS deliver superb stopping power and are fitted as standard. The six-piston fixed-calliper units at the front and single-piston floating callipers at the rear sport the M logo and are painted in Red with a Gold finish available as an option. The M Carbon ceramic brakes are 23kg lighter than the M Compound brakes on the BMW M5 Competition. These brakes offer even better performance, further improved fade resistance and still higher thermal stability, combined with excellent durability.

Carbon-fibre parts contribute to significant weight saving
The bonnet of the BMW M5 CS is made entirely from lightweight CFRP. The front splitter and the exterior mirror caps – taken from the BMW M8 – together with the additional rear spoiler on the bootlid and the rear diffuser are also made from CFRP. In addition to aiding aerodynamics, these parts also contribute to a near 70kg weight reduction over the BMW M5 Competition.

The M5 CS sports exhaust system’s quartet of stainless-steel tailpipes and Gold Bronze accents add to the special edition’s exclusive exterior details. The kidney grille surround on the BMW M5 CS is finished in Gold Bronze, as are the M gills on the front wings and “M5 CS” badges on the kidney grille and bootlid. The special-edition model exclusively adds a Gold Bronze finish to the 20-inch M forged wheels in Y-spoke design. The door sill finishers come with illuminated “M5 CS” badges, while extended high-gloss Shadowline trim features on the exterior mirrors, window frame surrounds and B-pillar.

BMW Laserlights with exclusive yellow tone
The BMW M5 CS is equipped as standard with BMW Laserlight, and its light graphic has a new look. While the BMW Individual Shadowline trim with additional black shading adds a dark-tinted accent to the headlights, the L-shaped light tubes are unexpectedly versatile: as daytime driving lights and side lights, they shine in the familiar white, but when low or high beam is activated, they switch to a distinctive yellow tone that BMW M5 CS drivers can also see from the outside, when they unlock the car remotely, triggering the Welcome Light.

Duo of exclusive individual matt paint finishes
The BMW M5 CS is available in three different paint shades – Brands Hatch Grey metallic or exclusive BMW Individual matt paint finishes Frozen Deep Green metallic and Frozen Brands Hatch Grey metallic.

Race-inspired interior layout
The BMW M5 CS is both a luxurious saloon and a high-performance sports car with room for four. The interior layout – comprising four individual M Carbon bucket-style seats – is exclusive to the special-edition model.

The M Carbon seats in the front with integral head restraints and illuminated M5 logos help to reduce the car’s weight, with the contoured side bolsters for the seat cushion and backrest also providing firm lateral support. The fine-grain Merino leather covers for the front seats and their Merino leather counterparts on the exclusive individual seats in the rear come in black with eye-catching contrasting panels and decorative stitching in Mugello Red. The outline of the legendary Nürburgring circuit imprinted on the head restraints is a reminder of the car’s sporting potential. The M Carbon seats in the front are electrically adjustable for height, tilt, seat cushion length and backrest angle, while the backrest width can be altered pneumatically. They are heated as standard and the driver’s seat also comes with a memory function.

M Alcantara steering wheel and bespoke CS detailing
Further interior details hint at the sporting intent of the BMW M5 CS. The rim of the M Alcantara steering wheel is wrapped in the race-derived material from which it takes its name, while its centre-marker perforation with red background is another classic race car influence. The gearshift paddles are made from carbon fibre and the steering wheel spokes have Black Chrome trim. Elsewhere, Alcantara is also used for the headliner. A fixed lightweight cover sits atop the centre console where an armrest with opening lid can usually be found. Its black Merino leather is complemented by red double stitching. This cover, together with the absence of an oddments tray, brings about a significant weight reduction. Red “CS” badging features on the instrument panel and between the bucket-style seats in the rear. The M seat belts feature red and blue contrast stitching that pay homage to the BMW M colours. The colours also appear in an “M5” badge on the velour M floor mats with bespoke piping and in the illuminated “M5 CS” badge on the door sill finishers.

12.3-inch central display provides access to driving dynamic systems
The new operating concept for the BMW M5 featuring a 12.3-inch central display makes it easy for the driver of the BMW M5 CS to keep a clear eye on the myriad functions of the driving dynamic systems and BMW M xDrive all-wheel drive. The driver can switch swiftly between the ROAD and SPORT settings using the M Mode button. Keeping the M Mode button pressed, then confirming the prompt in the central display engages TRACK mode.

M View in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display
Activating SPORT mode in the BMW M5 CS brings up M View in both the instrument cluster and the Head-Up Display. Here, only relevant information for performance driving – i.e. an M-specific rev dial, the shift lights, a digital speed readout and the gear currently engaged – is shown in the 12.3‑inch instrument display. Drivers can also choose to view additional information including coolant temperature, charge pressure, tyre condition and longitudinal/lateral acceleration in the instrument cluster. When M View is active, a rev counter with colour-coded warning zones appears in the Head-Up Display, while shift lights indicate the ideal time to change gear. Navigation instructions, distance warnings, current gear, vehicle speed and any speed limits or overtaking restrictions detected by the Speed Limit Info system are also displayed here.

Setup button takes drivers straight to the configuration menu
Pressing the Setup button positioned above the M Mode button takes the driver straight to the central display’s menu for programming an individual configuration for the powertrain and chassis options. This allows drivers to tailor the car’s setup to the driving situation at hand and their personal preferences. Simplified operation using the touchscreen display or iDrive Controller makes it easy to choose different settings for the engine, suspension, steering and M xDrive system. The two red-painted M1 and M2 buttons next to the gearshift paddles on the M Alcantara steering wheel make it possible to change quickly between setups. Drivers can use these buttons to compose two individual setups with their choice of M xDrive, DSC, engine, transmission, damper and steering characteristics, as well as their desired M View configuration in the Head-Up Display.

M xDrive and driving dynamics components are individually configurable
The driver can individually configure both the M xDrive system and all the driving dynamics components to tailor the BMW M5 CS handling characteristics to their preference. The M xDrive system’s rear-wheel-biased setup gives the car exceptional agility. In addition, the driver can vary the distribution of power between front and rear wheels, and also adjust the responses of the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system. As well as 4WD and 4WD Sport, drivers have the choice of 2WD mode for pure rear-wheel drive. This allows skilled owners to enjoy the driving experience offered by past generations of the BMW M5.

The Variable Damper Control (VDC) system offers the COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ driving modes. COMFORT focuses on broad-based everyday usability and familiar M comfort, combined with standout dynamics. SPORT mode reduces wheel and body movements to create more direct contact with the road, but still has sufficient comfort dialled in. This setting is suited perfectly to sporty driving on country roads and offers the ideal handling profile for laps of the Nürburgring. SPORT+ mode maximises performance on smooth asphalt, such as dedicated race circuits, with wheel and body movements minimised.

Advanced digital services: BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, Smartphone Integration and Remote Software Upgrade
The standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional brings in the latest BMW Operating System 7 and a host of digital services as standard.
The M5 CS includes the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant with the latest extended functionality. This technology learns routines, habits and preferences to help the driver get the best out of the in-car functionality. Smartphone Integration is offered as standard, without any runtime limitations, and is now compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Also offered on the M5 CS is the Remote Software Upgrade functionality that keeps the vehicle up to date with the latest software. All updates can be imported over the air, either on a smartphone via BMW Connected or directly into the car using its built-in SIM card. Installation is much like a smartphone update. The content of the upgrades can vary, from new software services to improved vehicle functions and the possibility to purchase additional technology via the BMW ConnectedDrive online store.