The 50 years of BMW M celebration kicked off today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Bavarian carmaker, naturally, took the opportunity to introduce the new BMW M3 Touring, after many faithful fans awaited (for decades) for the return of the high-performance station wagon/estate. While on the subject of BMW’s high-performance models, M bosses took the opportunity to tease another upcoming model, which is even more special, as it could be the new 3.0 CSL.

To be clear, BMW hasn't directly confirmed that the 3.0 CSL will be revealed later this year, but they did promise one more special M car, and what better way to celebrate 50 years of BMW M than with a new 3.0 CSL, right?

Over the years, BMW has given us a couple of epic homage cars like the 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage} and Hommage R.}/ 3.0 CSL Hommage R. While all these were one-off concepts, the 3.0 CSL Homage, which paid…well, an homage to [the 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL (E9), is confirmed to be getting a proper successor. We know it will be called the BMW 3.0 CSL, and unlike the 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL, it will not be an homage, but a proper, spiritual successor to the 1970s original.

The new BMW 3.0 CSL will be based on the upcoming BMW M4 CSL, but contrary to what many believe, it will not be an M4 with a body kit. Instead, the 3.0 CSL will feature a bespoke, coach-built body. BMW has a history with retro-futuristic concepts and spiritual successors, most notably the BMW Z8, which was a spiritual successor to the 1950s BMW 507. There was also the 2011 BMW 328 Hommage, but like the rest of the Hommage cars, it was a one-off, you could not buy. In any case, we expect to see a lot of retro-futuristic design cues, most notably the iconic shark nose and the rear wing that earned the original 3.0 CSL one of the coolest automotive nicknames – “Batmobile”.

Powering the retro-inspired, Bavarian sports car will be a “massaged” version of the B58. 3.0-liter, twin-turbo inline-six. While normally, in the M4 Competition, the engine makes 503 horsepower (370 kilowatts) and 479 pound-feet (650 Nm), it is expected to make around 600 horsepower, in the upcoming 3.0 CSL.

To put things in perspective, the 2015 BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage was powered by a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo inline-six, combined with an e-motor. This resulted in 500 horsepower (368 kilowatts) and 480 pound-feet (650 Nm). Coupled with a ZF eight-speed automatic, the 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) was possible in 3.5 seconds while the top speed was 190 mph (305 km/h). The proper successor to the original 3.0 CSL, is expected, to at least, match the performance figures of the 2015 Hommage.

You will be glad to know that the new BMW 3.0 CSL will be a proper driver’s car. This means that it will only be available with a six-speed manual transmission that will send power to the rear wheels only. Now, for the bad news. BMW plans to make only 50 examples of the CSL and each will set you back € 750,000, or approximately $790,310 in 2022 exchange rates. Still, no price is too great for the exclusivity and thrill of an old-school driving experience, right?