The sharply honed, light-weight BMW M3 CS is essentially the most highly effective M3 but, packing a mighty 542bhp to take goal on the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA.

On show for the primary time at Villa d’Este in Italy forward of a launch within the coming weeks, the M3 CS provides 39bhp over the already highly effective BMW M3 Competition to pip its Italian up to date by 10bhp.

Its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six, an uprated model of the identical engine discovered within the normal BMW M3 and BMW M4, can propel the M3 CS to 62mph from a standstill in simply 3.4sec – 0.2sec faster than the Giulia GTA.

Accelerating from 50- 75mph takes simply 2.6sec and the highest velocity is electronically restricted to 188mph. The straight six is tuned to ship 479lb ft, which is distributed by BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system.

The M3 CS is ready aside from the M3 Competitors visually by a raft of design tweaks, such as an angrier-looking, open entrance grille designed to match the entrance finish of BMW’s GT4-spec M4 racer. Gaping air intakes spherical off the new-look nostril. These are joined by a host of things that improve aerodynamics, such as a large entrance splitter and a lipped rear spoiler.

One of many keys to the M3 CS’s lofty efficiency figures is its lighter physique, made via the intensive use of light-weight supplies throughout the automotive (comparable to carbon fibre for the roof) and switching out elements for lighter alternate options (comparable to carbon fibre bucket seats and a titanium rear silencer). In whole, the M3 CS is 20kg lighter than the 1780kg M3 Competitors.

Beneath, the chassis is for essentially the most half the identical because the M3 Competitors’s, albeit with a bespoke set-up. The M Dynamic driving mode has been geared in the direction of high-speed circuit driving, for instance.

Different bespoke touches embrace individually tuned axle kinematics and bespoke wheel camber settings, dampers, auxiliary springs and anti-roll bars, the M3 CS that includes a model-specific suspension set-up.