Next M3 CSL?

Since the new E90 series BMW M3 was revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year, true BMW enthusiasts have been intrigued, but waiting for the CSL to come along. Standing for Coupe, Sport, Lightweight, those three letters name the most track-focused and pure driver’s cars BMW has to offer. News of the new model is beginning to leak out, with reports claiming it will be on sale by the beginning of 2010.

As the name suggests, saving weight is the focus of the M3 CSL’s performance regime. Carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced plastic are used extensively to achieve the goal of shaving 100kg from the base car. From the front fascia to the roof to the rear diffuser, center console and door panels, the CSL has spared almost no expense in its quest to achieve lightness. Even the radio, air conditioning, navigation and heated seats, among other optional accoutrement deemed unnecessary, have been deleted to save weight.

Light weight isn’t the only thing that separates the CSL from its standard M3 cousins, however. A fully reworked suspension, a 50hp (37kW) increase to nearly 470hp (350kW), and stickier tires on special wheels all combine to offer real-world performance improvements. According to Auto Zeitung, Nurburgring Nordschleife lap times around 7 minutes, 45 seconds should be expected, and the price should slip in just below the €90,000 ($143,000) mark.

All of these tweaks add up on paper, too, with expected acceleration times of 4.5 seconds for the 0-100km/h (62mph) dash and a top speed around 300km/h (186mph).

The last BMW M3 CSL was built in a limited run of just 1,400 cars between 2002 and 2004. Such tiny numbers make the CSL an exclusive offering, and only the most dedicated opt for the extra expense and somewhat harsher and noisier ride characteristics of the car.