For BMW enthusiasts, there are three letters that make them shiver with excitement — “CSL”. First, there was the legendary 3.0 CSL which one Sebring in 1975. That car brought the CSL nameplate to the mainstream for automotive enthusiasts. After the iconic E46-generation BMW M3 CSL, fans have held those three letters in the highest regard.
Continue Reading Below
And now, the iconic moniker will make a return. As hinted last fall, BMW M is planning to retire the GTS naming convention used on its track-ready cars and replace it with the more marketing-friendly “CSL.”
A brand spokesperson confirmed to The Drive over the weekend that “CSL” will take the place of “GTS” on the company’s most hardcore performance cars.
“CSL is still alive, and replaces GTS on further cars which are appropriate to get a CSL version—generally speaking,” stated the spokesperson, in a communique outlining a five-tier hierarchy of performance cars.
The M lineup starts now with the M Performance models, like the M240i, followed by the M cars themselves, such as the M2. Above the M2 we will have the Competition models, like the upcoming one based on the M2. Next on the M scale is the CS models, like the M3 CS and M4 CS.
The M4 GTS is now the highest point one can reach before jumping into a track-only BMW, but that model will be replaced by the CSL.
It remains unknown which BMW cars will first get the CSL badge, but our bet is on the next generation M3 and M4.
Let’s just hope the ”L” in CSL will still remain true
It better be. If they ruin the CSL name I’ll buy an Audi in protest
After killing the .M badge, they are going to kill the CSL one. Sad
Drive an M2 on an auto cross track and you’ll experience that the M badge is still alive.
Agreed and the new M2 Competition….boy, even better.
They should’ve never stopped using CSL, it’s a BMW thing while GTS is more generic.
good love the sound of it
Porsche raced at 24h Nurburgring a “Cayman GT4 CS” which I think it means a request for more competition in the M2 class. If it’s true, Porsche themselves are asking for a CSL M2 that could go head to head with the GT4 RS. (This is similar with Toyota testing the new Supra with the registration plate no. containing “RX 7”)
Going further, I still remember the E46 GTR, with a Motorsport V8 over the CSL inline 6. Wild dreams that could become a reality again, but this time in an M4.
Before the M3CSL, there was the 2000CS and 2800CS and the 3.0CS.
Note the font size does not change.
I’m sure, no future CSL model will have the lovely sound and great emotions as THE M3 CSL.
Assuming it’s too late for CSL versions of any existing M car (i.e. M2 or M4), then the first model it could appear on would be the M8. Maybe it’s wishful thinking but if they need to homologate anything special for the WEC car, a limited run of M8 CSL’s would be perfect for doing it, and it might be quite the halo car…
.. or maybe… i8 CSL :D
That’s good and I’m really happy for M division. I truly am. That being said, since this is the case, effort should now be made to release actual M cars at the same time as their new/updated regular and M performance versions rather than keep us waiting months, even years, after regular buyers are already enjoying theirs. I’m not so much a fan of Porsche but I notice they released the Turbo version of their Cayenne at the same time as the regular and S variant. That got me thinking it’s not impossible to get it done. BMW should do this. It’ll make a lot of people happy.
BMW have a long history of this, from their days as a small manufacturer constantly upgrading & tweaking their product. What was once a necessity due to limited resources became a bonus as it became a constant pipeline of new product and press – original 6 Series was produced over a decade with constant upgrades, to use one example. The Porsche you mention is VAG corporate, each brand just fine tune an existing platform. Since BMW are still expanding their range and bringing out multiple new models (& factories) they are under tighter constraints. Because of BMW limited production volume, Magna went from parts manufacturer to vehicle manufacturer because BMW couldn’t produce X3 & Countryman. VAG produce 5X the volume so better logistics for corporate roll-outs.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ve always felt that the GTS nameplate was a bit cliche, almost every other car maker uses it.
Seems like not that long ago having an M car used to be top dog. Now it’s only 4th on the hierarchy…
M5? Pfff, you couldn’t pony up for the M5 Competition, M5 CS or M5 CSL?
would be nice if in the begining of article SOMEONE would explain wtf these letters mean .cause all i understand is like lt1 ls5 .SS. thanks
Competition is like 1LE package
CS is like ZL1
GTS (now to be rebranded as CSL) is like ZL1 1LE
CSL = „Coupé Sport Leichtbau“