The BMW M5 Competition pushes the limits of performance with an excess of power and physics-defying handling. But for 2022, BMW goes all-in with a new four-door rocket called the M5 CS (for "Competition Sport"), which is available only for the 2022 model year.
BMW claims the new 2022 M5 CS is the quickest and most powerful BMW production vehicle ever. It uses the existing M5 engine, a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8, and squeezes out 627 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. That's 10 hp more than the M5 Competition, and while peak torque is the same, the powerband is slightly wider when winding the V8 up to nearly 6,000 rpm.
To make measurable gains in performance, a crash diet melts 230 pounds from the car. As a result, BMW says the M5 CS will reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and attain a top speed of 190 mph. Additionally, the car will come standard with carbon-ceramic brake rotors and performance Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires are a no-cost option. The suspension has been retuned to match the lighter brakes and standard 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, with ride height dropping slightly (0.2 inch) compared to the standard and Competition M5 variants.
You can spot the 2022 BMW M5 CS by its exclusive bronze-gold Y-spoke wheels and exterior trim, vented hood, and added carbon-fiber bits and pieces. Three colors are available: Brands Hatch gray, Frozen Brands Hatch gray metallic and Frozen Deep Green metallic. Peer inside, and you'll spot individual rear bucket seats with side bolsters that are almost as deep as the front seats.
Is the CS worth the price premium compared to the regular M5 Competition that costs $30,000 less? Not by any logical analysis. Do we want one? Yes. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below for our full evaluation of the car's performance, comfort and more.
Every BMW M5 CS leaves the factory in a single level of specification with just a few choices regarding paint color, brake caliper color and tire compound. The car also includes a voucher for one day of professional driving instruction, helping ensure you know how to use this piece of high-powered automotive artillery.
2022 BMW M5 CS
2022 Audi RS 7
Unless you must accelerate to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, need to drive a limited-production vehicle few others will own, or prefer the trunk of a traditional sedan instead of the larger and more practical cargo bay of a sedan-like hatchback, the Audi RS 7 is easy to recommend over the BMW M5 CS. The Audi costs less, carries more cargo, and is just as technologically advanced if not quite as powerful, fast and exclusive as the BMW.
If you choose a BMW M5 CS over the M5 Competition, you'll spend an extra thirty grand. And that's about what a Porsche Panamera Turbo S costs over the M5 CS. This version of the Panamera offers similar power, acceleration and a slightly higher top speed, combined with the more practical swoopy sedan/hatchback body style and larger cargo volume of the Audi RS 7. Plus, you can tailor the Porsche to specific preferences, while the M5 CS comes one way with a handful of upgrades.
Apples, meet oranges. The BMW has a gas-fueled twin-turbo V8 subject to a gas-guzzler tax, while the Tesla is all electric, all the time. The Model S Plaid is the one with more than 1,000 horsepower and is quicker to 60 mph by nearly a full second than the BMW M5 CS. Plus, the Tesla is slightly less expensive than the BMW, and similar to the Audi and Porsche, the Model S has a rear hatch and a big trunk. What about range? Tesla says the Plaid covers 348 miles between visits to the charging station.
The current BMW M5 generation debuted in 2018 and pushed the limits of performance with an excess of power and physics-defying handling. A year later, BMW upped the ante with a more powerful M5 Competition model. For 2022, this four-door rocket goes all-in with the M5 CS.
The 2022 BMW M5 CS takes the existing M5 engine, a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, and squeezes out 627 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. That's 10 hp more than the M5 Competition, and even though peak torque is the same, the delivery will be more immediate. BMW says it will reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, which is 0.2 second quicker than the M5 Competition. Top speed is limited to 190 mph.
Edmunds saysThe BMW M5 is already one of the most entertaining high-performance sedans ever made. Is the CS worth the $140,000-plus price tag compared to the regular M5 Competition that costs about $30,000 less? No. Do we want one? Of course, but we're not yet sold on the gold bronze accents. We'll have to decide when we see it in person, and we eagerly await that day.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2022 BMW M5 CS:
The least-expensive 2022 BMW M5 CS is the 2022 BMW M5 CS 4dr Sedan AWD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $142,000.
Other versions include:
