Just a month after its global unveiling, the all-new BMW M2 CS has already carved its name into the Nurburgring history books. This latest iteration of BMW’s baby M car has shattered the compact car lap record at the legendary 20.823km Nurburgring Nordschleife, setting a jaw-dropping time of 7 minutes and 25.5 seconds — a whole 8 seconds quicker than the previous record holder, the Audi RS3.
But that’s not all. The M2 CS also managed to outperform its own bloodline, going a staggering 13 seconds faster than the previous-generation BMW M2 Competition. It’s a serious statement from BMW M — one that proves the M2 CS is far more than just a mildly tweaked M2.
Behind the wheel for this record run was Jörg Weidinger, BMW M’s seasoned development engineer and Nürburgring specialist.
Described as the most hardcore and track-focused version of the M2 yet, the CS gets a host of performance upgrades over the standard model. It’s more powerful, lighter, and gets a striking ducktail spoiler.
Powering the M2 CS is BMW’s 3-litre inline-six S55 engine. It produces 523bhp and 650Nm of torque. All that power is sent to the rear wheels only, via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Sadly, a manual transmission option is sadly off the table.
To help it shed weight, BMW has fitted the M2 CS with a number of lightweight components, including carbon fibre body panels, forged alloy wheels, and carbon-backed bucket seats. These modifications contribute to a total weight saving of around 44 kilograms. Buyers looking to push performance even further can opt for the carbon ceramic brake package, which not only improves stopping power but also reduces unsprung mass.
On the chassis side, the M2 CS benefits from stiffer springs and revised adaptive dampers. It can sprint from 0 to 100kmph in just 3.7 seconds, and if you keep your foot in, it’ll keep going all the way to a top speed of 302kmph.
Speaking about the record, Franciscus van Meel, head of BMW M GmbH, called the lap time a “notable milestone” in the M2’s development.
