The BMW M2 was already a very capable car out of the box. However, because the German automaker is always striving to improve their driving machines, several faster editions were made. So what makes the latest M2 CS tick? Sport Auto took to the Nürburgring to be found in her latest video.
Under the hood lies the S55 3-liter inline six-engine that produces 444 horsepower (326 kilowatts) and 406 pound-feet (550 Newton-meters) of torque; although very good, this could be his swan song. While European emissions demand to keep the engine’s mouth shut, BMW decided to stop further development.
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The Bimmer in the video features a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with 245/35 R19s at the front and 265/35 R19s at the rear. While we are not sure of conditions during the shot, it turned out that Michelin rubber handles the Green Hell relatively easily. We were apparently not behind the wheel, but the car maintained its level of grip and behavior from the Hatzenbach corner to Kesselchen.
The CS gets much more than an increase in strength and some sticky rubber. Other features include an Active M differential and Adaptive M suspension. It’s not ’90s F1-level tech, but BMW says the system can adjust damper settings to provide an optimal experience in a variety of driving situations.
The M2 also gets lighter wheels and heavier brakes. While the wheels are an upgrade in the aesthetics department, the new hoops also reduce the unsprung mass of the car. Saving weight from the car itself is all well and good, but unusual weight has a deeper effect than anything else.
All improvements allowed Christian Gebhardt of Sport Auto to fire the Bimmer around the Ring in a time of 7 minutes and 42 seconds. If BMW wanted to set an official lap time, they would probably drill a factory driver for a more representative result. However, each round around the Nordschleife at full-chat is an achievement in itself.
