It’s been just over two months since the 2026 BMW M2 CS made its public debut at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May this year. But BMW has just announced that a month prior, it accomplished something even more extraordinary.
On April 11, 2025, the Bavarian coupe managed to lap the infamous 12.9-mile Nürbirgring-Nordschleife in a blistering 7:25.534, setting a new production record for compact cars, out-gunning the Audi RS3’s 7:33.123, the previous record holder by nearly eight seconds.
Behind the wheel, BMW M division’s development ace Jörg Weidinger, the same man who recorded a time of 7:37.7 at the ‘Ring in a 2023 BMW M2. Now, two years on, he has managed to shave an astonishing 13 seconds off that time, which is a lifetime in the racing world. It is worth noting that the M4 CSL still holds the crown for the fastest production BMW at the ‘Ring with a time of 7:18.137.
So what makes the latest M2 CS special? Let’s begin with what’s under the hood, where you’ll find a reworked (S58) 3.0-liter twin-turbo in-line six that pumps out 530 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. All that power hits the rear wheels via BMW’s tried-and-trusted 8-Speed M Steptronic transmission. The dash to 60 mph happens in just 3.7 seconds, and the top speed is rated at 188 mph.
But this M2 is not all about outright speed, but also about how it handles the bends. CS, after all, stands for Competition Sport, and you can certainly see the motorsport pedigree shine through when you look at the race-bred hardware on offer.
We’re talking extensive use of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the roof, hood, front splitter, rear diffuser, and eve interior trim. Throw in lightweight alloy wheels, unique chassis tuning, and model-specific engine mounts, and you’re looking at weight savings that amount to nearly 100 pounds, compared to the standard M2.
The BMW M2 CS continues a legacy that began in 2019 and builds upon the Bavarian automaker’s compact performance lineage that can be traced all the way back to the iconic 2011 BMW 1M, certainly one of the best sports cars of all time. That manual-only coupe rewrote the rules for all small M cars back in the day, as it combined everyday usability with a truly unadulterated driving experience.
Now the latest M2 CS carries on that tradition in the modern era, with the range also expanding into motorsport with the M2 Racing. Set for a limited release sale in late summer 2025, the M2 CS will be built in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, with a starting MSRP of $98,600 plus $1,175 destination in the U.S.
Source: BMW