BMW is to release a high performance special edition M3 CS and it will be available in March.

Powered by a straight-six 3.0-litre turbo engine it has 550hp on tap - some 40hp more than the BMW M3 Competition.

As such the CS has a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 188mph.

Prices will start from £115,900 and the car features carbon fibre reinforced plastic components and a special chassis set-up.

An eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic is operated using either the M-specific selector lever, on the centre console, or the carbon-fibre shift paddles on the steering wheel.

The transmission's shift characteristics can also be altered using the Drivelogic button integrated into the selector lever - with the choice of comfort-oriented, sport and track-optimised setting while the CS also features BMW's M xDrive all-wheel drive system.

Official fuel economy is rated at a best of 28mpg with emissions of 229g/km.

Standard specification for the BMW M3 CS includes MCompound brakes with the brake callipers painted in red. Optional MCarbon ceramic brakes are also available, with brake callipers in matt gold or red.

The standard equipment list also includes forged M light-alloy wheels in an exclusive V-spoke design, with a gold bronze finish or an optional matt black finish.

Measuring 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear, they are shod with track tyres that have been purpose-developed for this special-edition model, measuring 275/35 ZR19 and 285/30 ZR20 at the front and rear respectively.

Featuring a carbon fibre roof, the M3 CS also uses lightweight, high-tech material for its bonnet, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler.

Its centre console, the shift paddles on the steering wheel and its interior trim strips are also all manufactured from CFRP. The standard M Carbon bucket seats also help reduce weight, as does the titanium rear silencer - resulting in a reduction of four kilograms off the weight of the exhaust system.

The various lightweight design measures bring a total weight saving of 20 kilograms, compared to the BMW M3 Competition Saloon with M xDrive.

Body rigidity om the CS has been further increased by high-precision strut braces for the engine compartment, that have also been engineered for lightness.

An exclusive white paint finish is being launched on the car while green, grey and black finishes are also available.

Exposed carbon-fibre surfaces for the roof, the two indents chiselled into the bonnet, the front splitter, front air intakes, M exterior mirror caps, rear spoiler and rear apron combine with the black side skirts and M gills provide a stand out contrast.

The vehicle's front end sports a weight-saving, frameless BMW kidney grille with a stripped-back design - reminiscent of a racing car.

Special to the CS are red contour lines along with the "M3 CS" badging on the upper of the two horizontal grille bars. Both the model badge at the front and its counterpart on the boot lid have black surfaces with a red border.

BMW Laserlight headlights, also included as part of the standard specification, and illuminate in yellow instead of white - both during the Welcome sequence when the vehicle is unlocked and while low beam or high beam is switched on - which reference GT racing cars.