BMW M2 CS Brings Big Speed and a Big Price

Some cars ease you into speed. The BMW M2 CS grabs you by the collar. The track-focused version of BMW’s smallest M car showed up to MotorTrend’s 2027 Car of the Year testing with more power and more attitude. It also carries a price that makes even loyal fans stop and think.

• The M2 CS packs a 523 hp twin-turbo inline-six and hit 60 mph in 3.2 seconds in testing.
• Judges loved its speed and its ride but took points off for price, efficiency, safety, and small design changes.
• At $111,275 as tested, it’s worth comparing against a regular M2 or a used performance car.

What Makes the CS Different

Last year, the standard BMW M2 won over every Car of the Year judge with its agility, precision, and value. The CS takes that recipe and turns the heat way up. It’s a lighter, track-tuned version of the M2, built for drivers who want something sharper and more engaging than the car it’s based on.

Power comes from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six rated at 523 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. All of it goes to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic, and judges counted that gearbox among the car’s best traits. Curb weight is 3,669 pounds with a 52/48 front-to-rear split, and the car rides on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

The numbers back up the hype. In testing, the M2 CS ran to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and cleared the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds at 127.1 mph. It stopped from 60 mph in 95 feet, pulled 1.08 g of lateral grip, and finished the figure-eight lap in 23.0 seconds.

Fast, Fun, and a Little Bit Scary

Car of the Year judges score every entry on six criteria, and one of them is how well the car does the job it was built for. The CS did that job very well. Maybe too well. Features editor Scott Evans compared it to a firecracker and admitted it can be a handful. If you get the throttle or brakes wrong, the rear end can snap into big oversteer, and you need quick hands to catch it.

BMW lets drivers set up the car the way they like, right down to switching the stability control off completely. Unless you’re a seasoned track driver, it’s smart to leave some of that help turned on.

The ride came as a pleasant surprise. Judges expected it to be harsh and it wasn’t. Even over the bumpy parts of the test track, the CS felt comfortable for such a hardcore sports car, and that makes its extreme setup much easier to live with on everyday roads.

Carbon Fiber In, Cupholders Out

The cabin doesn’t change much from the base M2, but the changes it gets are easy to spot. Carbon fiber covers the dashboard, door panels, and center console, so the interior looks and feels racy. To save weight, BMW also took out the center armrest and the cupholders. That gives up a lot of daily comfort for a tiny bit of speed, and it feels odd in a car that costs six figures.

Price also cost the CS points. It starts at $99,775, and the test car came to $111,275. Judges docked points for that and for its thirst, since EPA ratings come in at 16 mpg city, 23 highway, and 19 combined. Safety pulled its score down too.

Weighing the CS Against a Used Performance Car

So who should buy one? If you’re an expert driver who spends weekends at the track or on mountain roads, the CS gives you everything you could ask for and then some. For everyone else, the math gets harder.

A regular M2 is the obvious place to start. The used market is worth a look too. Shopping at used car dealers can turn up earlier performance coupes and sports cars that often cost much less than a new CS. You could spend the money you save on tires, track days, or a driving school that teaches you how to handle that much power. Check the service records closely, though, because fast cars often live hard lives.

Match the Car to Your Driving Skills

The BMW M2 CS is a world-class performance car, and it proved that on the test track. It’s fast and sharp, and it rides better than it has any right to. But its steep price, its fuel use, and its small changes from the standard M2 kept it out of the Car of the Year winner’s circle. If you can, drive one, then drive a regular M2 or a solid used alternative right after it. Buy the one that makes you grin without scaring you.