BMW M2 CS unleashed with 523bhp and an aggressive new look

On sale Summer 2025  | Price from £86,800

Imagine a master chef taking their near-perfect signature dish, then combing the larder for ever more rare ingredients, assembled meticulously and delivered for even more culinary punch. That is, in essence, what BMW’s famed performance division has done with the already delightful M2.

So then, the main course: the BMW M2 CS. A coupé which, under that bulging silver cloche, is spicier than ever, served on a bed of lightweight carbon fibre and graced with a price tag that would make Heston Blumenthal wince. It delivers more power, less weight and a range of tweaks designed to deliver focus sharper than the finest kitchen knife. 

The CS gets the same 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine you’ll find in the standard M2, albeit tweaked to make 523bhp. That’s enough power for the M2 CS to accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.8sec – 0.2sec less than the regular M2 and 0.6sec less than the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS. 

Its top speed is limited to 188mph, which is substantially higher than the Alpine A110 S (162mph) and a fair amount more than the Cayman GTS (182mph). In fact, the M2 CS matches the performance capabilities of the M xDrive versions of the M3 Competition Saloon and M4 Coupé.

That extra performance does mean that the M2 CS’s fuel economy has taken a hit, averaging 28.8mpg on the WLTP test cycle – nearly 7mpg less than the standard M2 (34.9mpg) and substantially less than the 40.9mpg the Alpine A110 S can achieve.

All examples of the BMW M2 CS feature an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic gearbox but drivers will be able to use the standard Drivelogic feature, already seen on the M3 and M4, which alters the aggressiveness and speed of gear shifts. 

In addition to the power boost and the weight watching, the M2 CS also has a tweaked chassis, which sits 8mm lower, and tuned settings for the suspension and steering components. Drivers can also boost the engine’s sound with a titanium exhaust system, which can be ordered from the M Performance parts catalogue.

It’s thanks in part to that lightweight exhaust as well as carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body panels replacing the standard steel items, that the CS weighs 30kg less than the standard M2.

The carbon swapping has also resulted in a number of styling tweaks to make the M2 CS more aggressive, being distinguished from the rest of the range by changes including a more minimalist set of front ‘kidney’ grilles that let more air through, plus a reworked rear diffuser, and a ducktail spoiler designed to create more downforce at high speed. The M2 CS can also be distinguished by its set of gold light alloy wheels, which are fitted with track tyres as standard.

That aggressive weight saving can also be detected inside, with the M2 CS sporting a new centre console made entirely from CFRP, which features the same BMW Curved Display as the standard M2. This includes a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and 14.9-inch control display. The M2 CS also incorporates a set of weight-optimised bucket seats in (you guessed it) carbon, a heated racing steering wheel in Alcantara, and surfaces clad in soft Merino leather. Standard tech includes a Harmon Kardon audio system, three-zone automatic climate control and augmented reality views on the instrument panel via BMW Live Cockpit Professional.

Prices for the BMW M2 CS start at £86,800, which is not only a sizeable jump from the standard M2 (£68,705), and is also notably more expensive than rivals like the Alpine A110 S (£68,170) and the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS (£75,300).

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