2025 BMW M4 CS

The current M4 Competition xDrive is hardly what you'd describe as a blunt instrument — reactive and planted, the M4 is a great driver's car. But BMW loves sharpening its schwerter, and the 2025 M4 CS is exactly that. The CS cars typically represent the very best of BMW M, offering the best balance between still being usable on a regular basis but significantly more engaging than the standard M cars. While it's not the absolute tip of the spear (that title belongs to the limited-production CSL), the CS has a few things up its sleeve that make it a more attractive proposition.

Its looks are taken from the recently refreshed M4, with CS-specific cues sprinkled throughout. The grille is less obscured to allow for more airflow and the rear talilights are from the CSL with their interesting thin line OLED design. The CS' wheels are exclusive to this car and are staggered, measuring 19 inches up front and 20 inches in the rear.

The 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six has been breathed on by the M. It now makes 543 horsepower, 40 more hp than the standard M4 Comp, and the same as the CSL. It sends all that power through a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic to all four wheels. That's right, where the top-dog CSL is rear-drive only, the CS has BMW's performance all-wheel-drive system. BMW says the CS can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, but since BMW has a history of underrating itself it may just go quicker than that in our testing.

Of course, BMW worked on the CS' underpinnings. The camber settings, dampers, auxiliary springs and anti-roll bars have all been reworked to give a sharper feel to the steering and a more reactive chassis. There is extensive use of carbon fiber, too. The hood, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser, rear spoiler and roof are made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.

There's also a new strut tower brace that increases rigidity at the front and a new titanium muffler for the exhaust at the back. This helps give the CS a unique sound signature compared to the regular M4 models. BMW says the CS is now about 45 pounds lighter than the standard M4 Comp xDrive — it's not much, but every little gram helps.

The M xDrive system, when set to 4WD Sport mode, works to route the engine's power to the rear wheels first. Only when the system determines there's too much torque for the rear axle to utilize does it start sending power to the front axle. The electronically controlled M differential handles torque distribution between the rear tires while the front brakes help shunt power to whichever front wheel has more grip by limiting the slip of the spinning wheel.

This entire process happens so quickly and transparently, it makes the M4 CS feel like it has the lighter front-end balance and maneuverability of a rear-drive car, but with the added confidence and drive out of a corner that comes from all-wheel drive. And when you layer on the safety net of BMW's M Dynamic mode, which allows for fairly generous amounts of yaw before reining things in, you end up with a car you can jump into and almost instantly go fast in, feeling like the hero you always knew you were.

Where we've found the CS a bit lacking is in steering feel. The ratio is quick and accurate but the front end doesn't communicate quite as well as other sports cars, even a Mazda MX-5 Miata.