2023 BMW 3.0 CSL revival spied testing at the Nurburging

The 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL – a modern tribute to the marque’s iconic homologation special from the 1970s, dubbed the ‘Batmobile’ due to its big wings – has been filmed testing at the Nürburgring ahead of its global unveiling in the coming weeks.

Last teased in June, the M4-based revival model is a tribute to BMW’s classic 3.0 CSL – introduced in 1972 for touring car racing, becoming an icon thanks to its timeless design and radical aerodynamic bodywork.

In a video posted to YouTube by ‘Automotive Mike’, the reborn BMW 3.0 CSL is seen testing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, providing a glimpse of the coupe before its official launch in the coming weeks.

Wearing a BMW M-themed camouflage livery – celebrating 50 years of ‘M’ cars – the BMW 3.0 CSL features a smaller ‘kidney’ grille than the M4 it is based on, with its hand-built bodywork merging classic styling with a modern platform.

Small roof and boot-mounted spoilers at the rear of the 3.0 CSL draw inspiration from the original ‘Batmobile’, although the design of its tail-lights is not yet clear.

The BMW M4’s 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged ‘S58’ inline six-cylinder engine is rumoured to carry across to the 3.0 CSL, tuned to produce 418kW – up 13kW on the limited-run M4 CSL and 33kW more than the M4 Competition – with drive sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

As previously reported, the 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL is rumoured to be priced between €700,000 and €750,000 ($AU1.09 million and $AU1.17 million), with production capped at just 50 cars. Production is slated to begin next month, meaning a reveal is imminent.