MUNICH -- BMW has stopped production of the M3 CSL. The German automaker built about 1,400 units of the high-tech derivative of the M3 during the last year.
BMW produced the M3 CSL at its Regensburg, Germany, plant. The plant space used for final assembly of the CSL will be taken over by the 1 series, which will debut this summer.
Production of the regular M3 continues.
The M3 CSL was developed to improve performance through weight savings rather than increasing power. The M3 CSL's roof is made out of carbon fiber. The car is about 200kg lighter than the regular M3 and has a lower center of gravity. The CSL's power output increased moderately, from 343hp to 360hp.
BMW says the M3 CSL was developed and built to gain experience working with carbon fiber materials on higher-volume models.
