---
title: "454-HP BMW M3 CS Is Coming in 2018, Report Says"
description: "It's poised to be the most powerful M3 ever made."
date: "2017-07-20"
modified: "2017-07-20"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/12662/454-hp-bmw-m3-cs-is-coming-in-2018-report-says"
categories:
  - "BMW News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "BMW"
  - "cs"
  - "luxury"
  - "m3"
  - "sedan"
  - "sport sedan"
  - "sports car"
---

# 454-HP BMW M3 CS Is Coming in 2018, Report Says

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/07/p90260989_highres_bmw-m4-cs-lime-rock-e1500498264483.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

You might not realize it based on all the [hubbub](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/12404/the-bmw-m2-cs-will-probably-be-400-horsepower-of-german-perfection>) surrounding the BMW M2 these days, but the German automaker has not forgotten about the bigger M3 and M4. According to a report from [*Bimmer Today*](<https://www.bimmertoday.de/2017/07/18/bmw-m3-cs-2018-f80-power-limousine-mit-460-ps-geplant/>), BMW is preparing to launch a 454-horsepower M3 CS. That figure would make it the most powerful series production M3 ever made. (Yes, the [M4 GTS](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/424/track-focused-bmw-m4-gts-coupe-is-a-500-horsepower-fire-hydrant>) makes almost 500 with its fancy water injection system, but that's not billed as an M3 anymore, now is it?)

Essentially a four-door version of the [M4 CS,](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/9450/the-bmw-m4-cs-is-a-limited-run-m4-with-a-power-bump>) it'll boast the same breathed-on version of the 3.0-liter twin turbo straight-six, a carbon hood lifted from the uncompromising GTS, a carbon front splitter, rear diffuser, lip spoiler, and a sedan interpretation of the M4 CS and GTS's seriously cool [OLED](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS89sUWVlFE&t=12s>) tail lamps.

The report also claims that the M3 CS will lap the Nurburgring in less than 7 minutes and 40 seconds, thanks to a set of sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and a revised chassis. For reference, the [Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/5141/watch-the-505-hp-alfa-romeo-giulia-quadrifoglio-set-a-nurburgring-record>) holds the current four-door record at 7:32.

The BMW M3 CS will reportedly release in the spring of 2018 and serve as a last hurrah for the current, F80-generation of the M3 before the [new G20-gen 3 Series](<https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/04/27/2018-bmw-g20-3-series-spotted-germany/>) drops sometime in the near future.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)