Mystery BMW M3 Caught Testing: Return of The CSL or Rise of The Road Legal GT4 Racer?

The current BMW M3 was launched two years ago so its successor is not expected until at least 2013; earlier this year BMW ruled out a CSL version for the current E92 model, but the German car maker was recently caught testing an M3 around the Nurburgring. What gives?

There are a couple of theories that are going around as to why BMW is currently testing an M3 at the famed circuit. One is that the test car you see in the picture above could just be a mule to new technologies that could end up in the next M3. The other is that because it features such hardcore upgrades like a roll cage and an aero pack that includes a front splitter and a rear wing, it could be a road going version of the BMW M3 GT4 race car.

Audi is selling units of the R8 GT3 to the public, so why not BMW with its racer? The E46 BMW M3 CSL was a truly drivers car that won the hearts of many and four years to wait for the next M3 is just a little too long. Here’s hoping that BMW has decided otherwise and is putting together a E92 M3 CSL or better yet, a road-going version of the M3 GT4 racer to keep us occupied while the next M3 makes its way to production.