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2018 BMW M4 CS Ready To Hunt Cadillac ATS-Vs At The Track

Each and every time the 2017 Cadillac ATS-V arrives at a comparison test, it’s the same old song and dance. The chassis? Sublime. Handling and capability on the track? Incredible. Powertrain and interior fit and finish? Meh.

Now, the 2017 ATS-V may be doing a few more double takes at track days as BMW revealed the 2018 M4 CS at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show.

Meant to be the in-betweener for the M4 GTS and regular competition package, the M4 CS arrives with a tweaked suspension setup and 454 horsepower paired to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Like the C7 Corvette Grand Sport balances power with handling precision, the M4 CS is meant to do much of the same.

Specifically, the dampers are tuned to support superior performance on and off the track with Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes. The latter is reserved for the track if you took a wild guess. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires come standard as well.

However, pricing will leapfrog the ATS-V in every way. In Europe, the BMW M4 CS will go on sale with a €116,900 price tag, or roughly $125,000 USD. That’s quite a bit of money for a sport sedan.

It remains to be seen how Cadillac will up the ante with its sport sedan game when an all-new ATS finally debuts in the future, which will adopt Cadillac’s CT nomenclature. Will we see a better-executed interior? A more potent engine? Those are all question we’re pondering as the segment continues to heat up.

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. I don’t think BMW did this to fend off the ATS-V, no matter how good that car is. I think they took the Motortrend and other comparisons of the M4 vs. Camaro SS personally.

    Also of note, I’d hate to be driving this beautiful M4 CS at a track day only to get my doors blown off by at Camaro ZL1 that cost about half as much.

    Reply
  2. How is this even a comparison? It’s twice as much? The question I have asked for years is, do you compare cars with similar performance or similar price? Sometimes both of those are in the same area!

    I say the comparison should be price!

    Reply
    1. I think you ask a good question – for me, the answer is both. Price-wise, the M4 and the Camaros are in two different categories, this is true. But their profiles and missions are similar – they are both two-door coupes with sporting intent. The second we say “Sporting Intent” – i.e., sports cars, then we can start comparing them. Sports cars are meant to look good and go fast. One of those items is very subjective, the other we can measure quite a bit.

      In prior generations, let’s say the Gen 5 Camaro vs. a E92 M3 Coupe, you could tell where your money was going from both an interior quality standpoint as well as on the track. Generally the BMW was going to go and feel much better around the racecourse (excepting the Z/28). Not so much anymore. And if two guys with a BMW and a Chevy meet at a track day, I don’t think they’re going to be thinking much of the price difference.

      Reply
  3. This M4 will not cost $125K in the US. Cars are way more expensive in Europe, so just doing the conversion from euro to US dollars is misleading

    Reply
  4. So if not 125k then 80k, 85k? If so a CTS-V should be your choice at that price range!

    If this car barely matches the performance of the current ats v, but is much more expensive than how can this car be better than the current ats v?

    Reply

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