Golden wheels and yellow LEDs. Of course yes.
BMW
BMW unveiled its fastest production car of all time, the 2022 M5 CS, on Tuesday. Based on the already extreme M5 competition, the CS increases power, reduces weight and adds some radical design touches to differentiate it from the package. That said, you will definitely pay for the privilege.
The M5 CS uses the same 4.4 liter biturbo V8 as the rest of the M5 line. Here, this engine produces 627 horsepower, an increase of 10 HP over the M5 Competition. The torque output remains unchanged at 553 foot-pounds, and that power reaches the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW says the M5 CS can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds – that’s the fastest specification ever – although it’s just 0.2 seconds from the competition’s 3.1-second time. The CS has a revised exhaust with stainless steel tips, so it should sound pretty good under full throttle, too.
Like the Competition, the M5 CS has an active four-wheel drive system, with torque vectoring between the front and rear axles. The standard Active M rear differential can further scramble the power between the two rear wheels, which is especially useful since – like all M5s – the CS can shut off its front axle and operate in rear-wheel drive mode.
Thanks to the increased use of carbon fiber in the body panels and inside the car, the M5 CS is 230 pounds lighter than the M5 Competition, although it is not yet light, weighing 4,114 pounds. The roof, redesigned hood (which looks a little too much Charger Redeye for our taste), front divider, rear diffuser, spoiler and mirror covers are all made of carbon fiber, as well as the engine cover.
To better cope with the slight energy collision and reduced weight, the CS makes minor adjustments to the M5 Competition’s springs and dampers, which are already much more rigid than the basic M5. Another advantage for handling is the availability of Pirelli P Zero Corsa summer tires, measuring 275 / 35R20 at the front and 285 / 35R20 at the rear. These tires are a free option and you will certainly want them. The 20-inch gold wheels, thank goodness, are standard, and you can get gold calipers for carbon-ceramic brakes.
Rear passengers get their own cheeky seats.
BMW
Speaking of which, there are a lot of golden details in the M5 CS. In addition to the wheels, you will find this golden-bronze finish on the grill frame and emblems. Oh, and the LED racing lights light up in yellow instead of white, which is an incredible racing-inspired style. Everything looks very good against the frozen dark green paint of the car pictured here.
Inside the M5, the CS has a four-seat configuration with individual rear buckets. The carbon fiber front seats have a ton of reinforcement and look very supportive, and don’t worry, the M5’s logos on the front seats are lit up. You’ll find CS badges throughout the cabin, as well as Alcantara suede. The latest iDrive 7 infotainment technology from BMW is housed on a large touchscreen at the top of the dashboard, and a digital meter cluster shows more important information as well.
Now, the huge caveat: the 2022 BMW M5 CS costs $ 142,995, including $ 995 for the destination. This means that it is $ 30,900 more expensive than the M5 Competition, which is a very significant increase. Yes, you have nice seats, gold details and an extra 10 hp, but things like the gold wheels and P Zero Corsa tires could probably be purchased for much less. It’s a story similar to M2 CS: cool car, but very expensive. However, BMW will only offer the M5 CS for the 2022 model and the first US cars will arrive in the second half of 2021.