2022 BMW M5 CS Is The Most Powerful M5 Yet

The BMW M5 has always been a ridiculously powerful and capable machine. When BMW unveiled the M5 Competition in 2019, it felt like the automaker had extracted everything it could from the current generation of the M5. Leave it to BMW to up the ante with the 2022 M5 CS. Based on the M5 Competition, the 2022 BMW M5 CS cuts weight and adds more power. That results in what BMW is calling the most powerful and quickest BMW production vehicle ever made.

Under the hood, the M5 CS uses the same twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine as the rest of the M5 lineup. In the M5 CS, the engine is good for 627 horsepower, which is an extra 10 hp over the M5 Competition. Torque remains the same at 553 pound-feet of torque and power is still routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Just like the M5 Competition, the M5 CS comes with an active all-wheel-drive system with a rear-wheel-drive mode. The extra power may not sound like a large increase, but it does wonders when paired with the weight savings.

BMW managed to cut 230 pounds off of the M5 Competition by using carbon fiber for the hood, mirror housings, front splitter, roof, rear diffuser, and rear splitter. On the inside, there are carbon fiber front seats and the traditional three-person bench seat has been replaced with two bucket seats.

With more power and less weight, the M5 CS can get to 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds. That’s the quickest production vehicle BMW has ever made. That makes the M5 CS 0.2 seconds quicker than the M5 Competition. Top speed for the M5 CS maxes out at 190 mph.

To make sure the M5 CS can handle the extra performance, BMW has updated the M5 Competition’s suspension. The M5 CS comes with upgraded springs and dampers, available sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa summer tires, carbon ceramic brakes, a new exhaust system with stainless steel tips, and 20-inch gold wheels. In addition to the extra performance, the M5 CS has a more aggressive design. The badges and kidney grille are finished in gold bronze and the headlight surrounds shine yellow instead of white. That last feature matches BMW’s race cars. Two new colors, including frozen deep green and frozen Brands Hatch gray, are available.

Clearly, the M5 CS is a very special vehicle. High-performance vehicles, especially high-performance sedans, are being discontinued as more consumers choose to purchase sporty SUVs. So, seeing BMW offer an even more track-oriented version of the M5 is surprising. Unfortunately, the M5 CS is destined to become a collector’s item because of its price tag and availability.

BMW will offer the M5 CS for the 2022 model year as a limited-production vehicle. The automaker hasn’t said how many models will be built, but we’re sure this is going to be a highly exclusive vehicle. Then, there’s the pricing. The 2022 BMW M5 CS will start at $142,995 with destination when the first models arrive in the second half of the year. That’s $30,900 more than the M5 Competition. Despite being a massive increase over the M5 Competition, we’re sure BMW won’t have any trouble selling all of the models. BMW hasn’t said anything about reservations, but we’re sure well-off buyers will reach out to the automaker to put deposits down on the vehicle to secure their model.

The new M5 CS only has two real competitors: the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and the Audi RS 7. Both the AMG E63 S and the RS7 come with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine with the former making 603 hp and the latter producing 591 hp. Neither can match the M5 CS when it comes to horsepower or zero-to-60 mph times (the AMG takes 3.3 seconds and the RS7 takes 3.5 seconds). Both of those are far more affordable than the M5 CS though – the AMG costs $108,495 and the RS7 is priced at $115,045.

The M5 CS joins the M2 CS as the most recent CS models from BMW. Only 2,200 units of the M2 CS will be built globally with 400 models rumored to be for the U.S. and the vehicle will only be manufactured for one year.

Learn more about the current M5 on sale now »