2002 BMW M3 CSL Concept
The three terms coupé, sports and lightweight, abbreviated as CSL, have a great heritage. Back in 1938, BMW built the legendary 328 Mille Miglia Coupé with an aluminium body and in the ’70s the Company built a lightweight sports car based on the 3.0-litre coupé.
At the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW M took up the theme once again in the guise of the M3 CSL Concept Car, making the hearts of sports car aficionados the world over skip a beat. And now, following the overwhelming response to the concept car, BMW M is presenting an M3 CSL prototype suitable for series production as the predecessor to a production model launched to appear in future.
The CSL M3 was an exercise in making the E46 as light as possible. Carbon Fibre reinforced plastic, the material used in F1 racing, is abundant throughout the CSL body. During the process of applying the new material, the development team optimized the rear trunk lid with a higher spoiler. These upgrades have resulted in a 10% increase in the power to weight ratio of the car
The Inline-6 is mated to the new BMW sequental manual gearbox (SMG). This transmission allows for gear selection much like that of a regular manual transmission without clutch operation. Addionally, paddles are located behind the wheel for gear operation.
The M3 CSL comes on specially developed 19-inch wheels with new sports tyres again reflecting the purist concept of the car, while the 18-inch brake system ensures supreme stopping power.
The CSL was recently run around the north circuit of the Nurburgring with a lap time 30 seconds less than that of the standard M3.
Starting next year, the BMW M3 CSL will enter the market in a limited edition.
In Detail
| built at | Munich, Germany |
| engine | Inline-6 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | DOHC w/4 Valves per Cyl, Double Vanos |
| displacement | 3246 cc / 198.1 in³ |
| bore | 87 mm / 3.43 in |
| stroke | 91 mm / 3.58 in |
| power | 268.5 kw / 360 bhp @ 7900 rpm |
| specific output | 110.91 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 276.92 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 393.19 nm / 290.0 ft lbs @ 4900 rpm |
| front tires | 225/35X19 |
| rear tires | 265/30X19 |
| front brakes | Vented & Cross Drilled Discs w/ABS |
| rear brakes | Vented & Cross Drilled Discs w/ABS |
| front wheels | F 48.3 x 21.6 cm / 19.0 x 8.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 19.0 x 9.5 in |
| steering | Rack & Pinion w/Power Assist |
| f suspension | acPherson Struts wCoil Springs, Gas Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Multi-Link w/Coil Springs, Gas Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| curb weight | 1300 kg / 2866 lbs |
| transmission | 6-Speed SMG w/Paddle Shifting |
| top speed | ~249.4 kph / 155.0 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~4.3 seconds |
