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Johannesburg - BMW South Africa is putting on a mega show for the inaugural M Festival at Kyalami this weekend (October 21-22).
The performance arm of the German automaker has already hosted the festival in Japan, China and of course Germany.
New M5 and X3 on display at Kyalami
On Thursday, BMW gave media an opportunity to drive the latest addition to the M4 range: the CS. Only 60 units are earmarked for Mzansi.
The CS is one of three models, including the new M5 and X3 to make their local debuts at the M Festival.
338kW/600Nm
Placed between the M4 Competition Package (CP) and the hardcore GTS, the CS has backseats, satnav, a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and an active M differential.
Priced at R1 838 500, the CS boasts 338kW and 600Nm from its 3.0-litre turbocharged flat-six engine. That's an increase o the CP's 331kW and 550Nm.
The coupe has a claimed top speed of 280km/h if the optional Driver's Package is selected. 0-100km/h is dispatched in 3.9 seconds says BMW.
On track it feels alive, edgy and quite twitchy. With only three laps (two and half fast laps and half a cool down) to play with it really was a quick affair... in more ways than one.
The engine pulls hard as I rev it to 6000 r/min before pulling the paddle shift engaging second gear. The car is set up in sport plus (engine), comfort (steering) and sport plus (damping).
Click here for: M4 CS specifications
Turn in is precise, but the rear is bucking and weaving as I power up towards sunset. I climb on the M fade-resistant compound brakes and I quickly realise the CS will take more than three laps to get used to.
However the brief time I did spend with it showed it has immense power and a playful nature that perhaps could catch a novice off guard.
The CS features active M differential and has a sportier set up than the Competition Package according to BMW. It rides on sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
Watch: BMW M4 CS start up and pull away
The BMW M Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Kyalami race track in Gauteng, the automaker expects over 10 000 people to attend.
Aside from model launches, the automaker says customers, fans and car enthusiasts will get to experience hot laps and book test drives across the BMW M and M Performance model range.
The BMW DTM race team (Team Schnitzer with driver Tom Blomqvist) will also make a special appearance at the event and offer visitors hot laps in the BMW M4 DTM car around the 16-turn, 4.522km anti-clockwise FIA graded circuit. How cool is that?!
