G-Power takes M3 CS to 720hp, 200mph

BMW's S58 engine seems eminently tuneable - it'd be rude not to take advantage...

It doesn’t seem that long ago that more than 700hp from 3.0-litre and six cylinders would have required forged internals, very expensive (and very large) turbos plus servicing most months. Now we live in a world where 720hp keeps almost all of the engine standard, and needs nothing more than ECU work and a racy exhaust. It remains pretty staggering.

The latest to show just what the current generation of twin-turbo sixes can achieve is G-Power; having worked its magic on seemingly every variant of the G8x M3 so far, it has now modified the CS. Which, it would be fair to say, is the best of the bunch so far. But the German tuners believe there’s room for improvement, with performance software, a ‘DEEPTONE’ exhaust, sports downpipes and high-flow cats. The 720hp and 627lb ft means 200mph is possible - the limiter is now at 320kph - and the acceleration will surely be even stronger than a very fast 550hp standard version. A showroom fresh will do 0-124mph in 10.5 seconds.

G-Power being G-Power, however, it hasn’t stopped with just another 200hp and some chunky exhausts. They say the cosmetic upgrades ‘make its exceptional status evident from the very first glance.’ So there are forged wheels, the Hurricane RR or Hurricane RS, upping the front diameter to 20-inch from 19 and keeping the rears at 20. There are even two options for the carbon bonnet, which is said to optimise thermal management in the engine bay as well as make people stare. It probably makes for a useful weight-saving on the front end, too, like an M5 CS. The carbon side skirts and spoiler feel less essential. G-Power badges adorn the interior and exterior in case the message hasn’t got through.

Still, nobody is buying the current M3 and M4 to blend in, and certainly not a CS with its snoutier grille, so perhaps there’ll be demand for the cosmetic add-ons on top of the power. Whatever you go for from G-Power, though, it won’t come cheap; the additional output may come from ECU and exhaust changes, although presumably there’s a lot of development cost to recoup. Because the extra power will cost €35,000 from G-Power. So perhaps just the 550hp and fabulous M car chassis will be enough. But then there are lightly used CSes out there with £20,000 off new price, if that helps sway the 720hp decision…