photos of 2023 BMW M3 CS sports sedan have appeared online ahead of the official unveiling this coming weekend – and the start of production in March.

Posted on social media platform Instagram Images from users @wilcoblok and @kero_wolf show that the M3 CS will merge elements of the hardcore M4 CSL 2-door with the larger bodywork of the latest BMW M3 4-door.

The front fascia of BMW’s new M3 CS has been carried over from the M4 CSL and shares the coupe’s new grille inserts with red accents, larger carbon fiber lower splitter, amber daytime running lights and dual stripe carbon fiber reinforced plastic bonnet.

It also shares the M4 CSL’s 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, red brake calipers – which are expected to clamp carbon-ceramic discs – and the fitting of a carbon-fiber headliner. The tires are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track rubber.

However, the M3 CS dispenses with the body-colored “ducktail” spoiler of the CSL – and instead only differs from a standard M3 Competition by a red accentuated M3 CS badge on the trunk lid.

How much weight the M3 CS will save compared to the standard model is unclear. The M4 CSL is 100kg lighter than the car it’s based on, but the weight savings on the M3 CS aren’t as dramatic.

Visible changes inside include an Alcantara-covered steering wheel with a red marker at the top center, and the M4 CSL’s carbon fiber center tunnel with a small padded armrest instead of a console storage box.

The seats are black leather-trimmed and red-accented versions of the M Carbon sport shells found in the regular M4 Competition — rather than the CSL’s ultra-lightweight seats, which have fixed backrests and a height adjustment that’s only possible with a tool kit in a workshop.

Unlike the M4 CSL, the M3 CS sedan’s rear seats haven’t been eliminated – but it’s unclear if it will switch from five to four seats and remove its center seating position, like the larger M5 did in its Competition-to-CS transition .

As reported by driveThe BMW M3 CS is expected to use a performance-enhanced version of the M3 range’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and “xDrive” all-wheel drive system.

The engine should deliver 405 kW – matching the M4 CSL and 30 kW more than the standard sedan M3 Competition.

the 2023 BMW M3 CS will be unveiled later this month, January 28-29, during the weekend of the Daytona 24 Hours auto race in the USA. Stay tuned drive for more details.

Production is due to start in March – which if the car is confirmed for Australia could lead to first showroom arrivals in mid-2023.