BMW M4 CS: Performance Car of the Year 2018 7th Place

When you look at the numbers, it’s a bit hard to see how the M4 CS finished so far down the order.

I mean, its lap times are up there at the very sharp end, the standing-start stuff is epic and its brakes are nothing short of phenomenal – while they last, at least. But for all that, it never really wants to give you as much on the track as some of its peers. And while working for it is one thing, the BMW was just a bit too mute.

Either way, you’ve got to respect the thing for the instant torque it generates from just three litres, and the DCT transmission is urgent and no-nonsense.

My PCOTY started with me not really liking the CS’s Winton manners, moved through a growing admiration for its on-road purpose and finished with me taking the M4 back to Melbourne the back way, over the mountains and through the forest. It’s a route I use all the time and I must have driven it hundreds of times before.

Unfortunately, its road-car credentials are blunted somewhat by some truly bizarre fitments and omissions. Let’s start with the air-con.

Now, I know weight is critical but c’mon… is single-zone air going to make any discernible difference?

So we’ll stand by the voting process that saw the fourth-quickest, fourth-fastest and fourth-trackiest car come home seventh.

2018 BMW M4 CS SPECS: Body: 2-door, 4-seat coupe Drive: rear-wheel Engine: 2979cc inline-6, DOHC, 24v, twin-turbo Bore/Stroke: 89.6 x 84.0mm Compression ratio: 10.2:1 Power: 338kW @ 6250rpm Torque: 600Nm @ 4000-5380rpm Power/Weight: 214kW/tonne Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight: 1580kg Suspension: struts, coil springs, adaptive dampers, coil spring (f); multi-links, coil springs, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (r) Brakes: 380mm ventilated/drilled discs, 4-piston calipers (f); 370mm ventilated/drilled discs, 2-piston calipers (r) Wheels: 19.0 x 9.0-inch (f); 20.0 x 10.0-inch (r) Tyres Sizes: 265/35 ZR19 (f); 285/30 ZR20 (r) Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Price: $189,900

0-100km/h: 4.05sec (5th) 0-400m: 12.01sec @ 197.25km/h (4th)

Morley – 10th I didn’t like the M4 CS at first, but it grew on me and that interior became an issue.

Campbell – 4th Love it to bits on the road. Although would be a different car on different tyres.

Newman – 8th Best M4 yet, but too expensive and interior is plain dumb.

Robson – 8th Strong engine, magic tyre set, but that price? Needs a firm hand to get the best from it.

Reynolds – 7th Hard to drive slowly. Enjoyed pushing it but odd steering feel.

JUDGES’ SCOREBOARD