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Can the BMW M4 CSL atone for its track defeat of the Porsche 911 GT3 at Hockenheim by defeating the Alfa Romeo Giulia in a drag race? Specifically, the extreme Gran Turismo Alleggerita (Italian for “lightened”) variant of the sports sedan. CarWow lines up the two limited-edition cars, which are only produced in quantities of 1,000 and 500, respectively.
The 2023 BMW M4 CSL is one of only 10 vehicles designated for the UK. This right-hand-drive M4 CSL shows up in the regular Frozen Brooklyn Grey finish. It weighs a hefty 1,625 kilograms (3,582 pounds). Despite this, BMW’s Competition Sport Lightweight is 100 kilograms (220 lbs) less than the rear-wheel-drive M4 Competition it is based on.
Alfa’s GTA was placed on a diet and shed a comparable 100 kilograms (220 lbs) to the CSL. At 1,540 kg, it weighs significantly less than its opponent (3,395 lbs). There was also a Draconian diet followed by a hard-core GTAm model that did away with the back seats and used additional carbon fibre. The GTA regular, however, is the vehicle being displayed here.
Both vehicles feature six-cylinder engines with two turbochargers under their hoods. However, the BMW has an inline-six with 3.0 litres. Meanwhile, the Alfa Romeo has a smaller V6 with a 2.9-litre engine. Both vehicles use an eight-speed, torque-converter automatic transmission to transfer engine power to the rear wheels. And the M4 CSL has 10 horsepower and 50 Nm more available horsepower and torque than the Giulia GTA.
The M4 CSL was the first vehicle to cross the finish line in the first two drag races despite a rough start. In the third race, the launch control system performed as promised, giving BMW a more comfortable victory. The gap widened in the subsequent rolling races at 50 mph (80 km/h) and 30 mph (48 km/h). It was where the Giulia GTA was completely outmatched by the CSL’s superior in-gear acceleration.
In one duel, the Alfa succeeded in stopping first from a speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) in the braking test. Although we wouldn’t have expected the difference to be this large—about half a car’s length—considering that it is the lighter car. Some people think the Giulia GTA is more attractive and has a better sound than the other.
